Thursday, September 20, 2018

'Prevent situation where Iran surrounds Israel'

Political Security Cabinet member Minister Naftali Bennett referred today to the tension between Russia and Israel after a Russian plane was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during an airstrike in Latakia on Monday.
 
"We want to prevent a situation where Iran envelops the State of Israel in its arms. Of course we express regret over the downing of the Russian plane; we have mechanisms to prevent such incidents and we'll reinforce them. In the end, the one who downed the plane was Syria," Bennett said on Army Radio.

"The mechanism for preventing friction between the IDF and the Russian army is operational, and it's worked very well until now. When the Syrian army launched the missiles at the plane, our planes were no longer in the area. Russia has its interests and Israel has its own. In the end, we need to act with determination and consistency."
Bennett noted Air Force Commander's departure to Moscow was needed to calm the situation. "We're strengthening and buttressing the friction-prevention mechanisms, and the Air Force Commander will achieve that. Iran is trying to turn Lebanon into a high-accuracy launch site.
 
"In the end, we will prevail because it's more important to us; for us it's a matter of life itself. What's already beginning to happen in Iran - the people will get fed up with it. They have no water at the faucets and they'll realize they don't need this adventure."