Netanyahu ‘aspires peace’ with Arab countries after Iran strikes

Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel destroyed Iran’s ‘industrial factories of death’ in its strikes over the weekend, but added he remained committed to the Abraham Accords.

Benjamin Netanyahu (C) speaks to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (L) at the opening of the 25th parliament session in Jerusalem. Picture: AFP.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel destroyed Iran’s ‘industrial factories of death’ in its strikes over the weekend, but added that he would pursue peace with Arab nations.

Mr Netanyahu told Israel’s Knesset the strikes had “severely damaged Iran’s defence systems and its ability to export missiles.”

“These were not lathes we were attacking,” he said. “These are industrial factories of death and we struck them hard.”

He said Israel’s long term aim was “dismantle the axis of evil,” and to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons.

However he assured the Knesset he was committed to the Abraham Accords and “aspires to achieve peace” with Arab countries.

“I aspire to continue the process I went through a few years ago, with the signing of the historic Abraham Accords, in order to achieve peace with other Arab countries,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops the Israeli military’s operation against Iran were its most significant since the Six Day War in 1967 and suggested the strike was a softening up operation for future attacks.

“The response seems very precise, high-quality, and deadly for what we wanted to hit and I think the IDF has not done an operation like this, the Air Force has not done an operation like this since Operation Focus,” Mr Gallant said to IAF officials.

“This is a very accurate hit on the radars and the air defence systems, which actually creates a big disadvantage for the enemy when we want to attack later,” he said, adding that the damage to missile production and air defences had changed the balance of power in the region.

“[Israel] remains with its power, [Iran] is weakened. Both in [our] attacking ability and in its defensive ability and in its production ability,” he said.

Meanwhile, South Africa has filed with the International Court of Justice its full submission alleging that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

With AFP