Netanyahu: "We are changing the Middle East"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "I said we would change the Middle East, and we are indeed changing it. I spoke with Trump about the need to complete the victory"

"A year ago I said a simple thing: We will change the Middle East, and we are indeed changing it. Syria is not the same Syria, Lebanon is not the same Lebanon, Gaza is not the same Gaza, and the head of the axis - Iran - is not the same Iran. It also felt the comfort of our arm.

We are acting with strength and discretion, to bring security to all the countries of the region and to bring stability and security to all our borders. This does not mean that there are no more challenges ahead of us, there are. Both with Iran, with its bloody proxies, and with the other potential threats, because reality is dynamic - it is changing rapidly.

Therefore, I want to say something about Syria - we have no interest in confronting Syria. We will determine Israel's policy toward Syria according to the emerging reality on the ground. I recall that for decades, Syria has been an active enemy state of Israel. It has attacked us repeatedly, it has allowed others to attack us from its territory, it has allowed Iran to arm Hezbollah through its territory.

To ensure that what was, will not happen again, we have taken a series of powerful actions in recent days. Together with Defense Minister Katz, I have instructed the IDF to thwart potential threats from Syria, and to prevent terrorist elements from taking over near our border.

Within a few days, we destroyed capabilities that the Assad regime had built over decades. We did this to ensure that dangerous weapons would not be directed against us again from Syrian soil. We also hit the arms supply routes from Syria to Hezbollah. Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said it out loud yesterday: "Hezbollah has lost its military supply route through Syria." These words are, of course, further evidence of the severe damage we have inflicted on the entire Iranian axis.

However, I would like to clarify and warn: We are committed to preventing Hezbollah from rearming. This is an ongoing test for Israel, we must meet it - and we will meet it. I say to Hezbollah and Iran in no uncertain terms - to prevent you from harming us, we will continue to act against you as much as necessary, in every arena and at any time.

I discussed all of this again last night with my friend, US President-elect Donald Trump. It was a very friendly, very warm and very important conversation. We spoke about the need to complete Israel's victory, and we also spoke at length about the efforts we are making to free our hostages.

We continue to work tirelessly to bring our hostages home, both the living and the dead. And I add, the less we talk about it, the better, and so, with God's help, we will succeed."

Benjamin Netanyahu