Netanyahu: Israel Will Act Alone If Necessary To Prevent Iranian Nuclear Threat
By Felice Friedson and Gabriel Colodro/The Media Line
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Israel is prepared to act alone if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking at the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said any deal with Tehran must fully dismantle its ability to enrich uranium.
“We cannot live with anything short of that,” Netanyahu said. “One way or the other, Iran will not have nuclear weapons.” He argued that only the complete removal of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—similar to the dismantling of Libya’s program—could guarantee long-term security. “A bad deal is worse than no deal,” he warned, expressing concern that Iran could exploit diplomatic agreements to bide its time.
Addressing the broader regional threats, Netanyahu identified Iran as the driver of the October 7 Hamas attack, describing it as part of a larger plan to launch a multi-front assault on Israel. He said that Tehran’s influence now stretches from Iran through Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. “They proceeded to embark on a campaign targeting Israel … and to export the revolution worldwide: ‘Death to Israel, death to America,’” he said.
Netanyahu praised Israeli military operations against Hezbollah, describing the September 27 killing of Hassan Nasrallah as a critical blow to Iran’s network of proxies. “It was a terrific blow,” he said, adding that Nasrallah had been “the axis of the axis” for Iran’s regional ambitions.
While thanking the United States for its support against Houthi attacks from Yemen, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel seeks assistance—not US boots on the ground. “We will fight with our fingernails if we have to. … We are not a vassal state,” he said, warning against international efforts to pressure Israel through the United Nations and public opinion campaigns.
Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Netanyahu strongly rejected the notion that establishing a Palestinian state would lead to peace. “The idea that you create a Palestinian state and that will produce peace … is folly. Nothing more than folly,” he said. He cited the Hamas takeover of Gaza and the October 7 atrocities as evidence that Palestinian rejectionism—not Israeli policies—lies at the heart of the conflict.
“You cannot build peace and security on lies,” Netanyahu said. “Sooner or later, these lies will crash on the realities of Middle Eastern reality.”
He added that Israel must finish its military campaign in Gaza by retrieving hostages, destroying Hamas, and maintaining security control over the territory. “Why replace one regime that is sworn to our destruction with another regime that is sworn to our destruction?” he asked.
Netanyahu concluded by urging continued resistance to international pressure. “Fight for the truth,” he told the audience.
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