UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted for "emergency lowering of voltage" in the Middle East a few days ago when an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council took place. Guterres warned that "The Middle East is on the brink" and that it was time for him to step back from the abyss over which he had risen. Tensions in the region rose after Iran launched an attack on Israel from the territory of the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with an offensive in Gaza. What's happening in the area… Naama Levi, Israel's deputy ambassador to Bulgaria, spoke to FAKTI
- Ms. Levy, Israel vs. Hamas, Israel vs. Iran… What is happening in the Middle East?
- Last Saturday (April 13), Iran attacked Israel in a large-scale and unprecedented attack consisting of hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles fired from Iranian territory at Israel. This attack was the culmination of years of Iranian threats and statements about Iran's ambition to destroy Israel. The attack provided a clear illustration and proof that even if Iran did not achieve its goal last Saturday, these are not empty threats and Tehran is determined to act.
In Gaza, Israel is in the midst of a self-defense war imposed on it by a terrorist organization worse than the Islamic State, which carried out a murderous attack on October 7, killing 1,200 Israelis, kidnapping 240 men, women, children, babies and adults, raped and continues to sexually assault Israeli women who are still being held captive for over 6 months now.
Since the October 7 massacre by Hamas, an Iranian proxy organization that relies on Iranian funding, training and materials, Israel has been fighting Iranian proxy organizations in the region: Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad; (PIJ), “Hezbollah“, “Ansar Allah“ (Houthis) and Shiite militias in Iraq.
What these terrorist acts in our region have in common is Iran,
whose actions, directly or indirectly through proxy organizations, pose a threat not only to Israel but to the entire world. It is important to understand that all these fronts are connected and that Israel is not waging war on these fronts to protect itself, but also to protect the international community.
- Iran's permanent representative to the UN, Amir Seyed Iravani, told the Security Council that his country would "respond proportionately" of any US military operation against it. USA, UK, France etc. support Israel. Do you see a potential "tipping point" of the development of events...
- Iran's attempt on April 13 to harm Israel through the attack carried out, among other methods, using the same drones that were used against the citizens of Ukraine, provides another example that the country's harmful influence is not limited to to our region, and also represents a direct threat to world peace.
Approximately 99% of the missiles and drones fired during the attack were intercepted – much of it away from Israel's borders, by Israeli Air Force planes and Israel's air defense system, and with the help of the military forces of many other countries that support Israel in its fight against Iran and its proxy organizations in the region . We appreciate the fact that the United States and all of our allies stand behind Israel and appreciate their help in containing the Iranian attack. This position clearly shows that we are in a struggle between the free world and an axis of evil whose roots are based in the Tehran regime.
The government of Israel will decide what the course of events will be, but what we know for sure is that no country could accept threats to its very existence, and Israel is no exception. Israel will not tolerate Iran's threats against it and will respond strongly to any attempt to harm it. Israel will ensure that neither Iran nor its proxy organizations pose a threat to our citizens.
- Iravani also said that Tehran's attack on Israel on the night of April 14 was "necessary and proportionate" amid Israel's alleged strike on Damascus, but will take no further action. Is there any room for trust when it comes to launching drones and cruise missiles?
- There is no room for trust when it comes to Iran, and there is no justification for these unprecedented actions. After many years of Iran hiding behind its allied organizations in its attempts to sow terror, spread war and destabilize the region, for the first time Tehran has come out from behind the scenes to reveal its identity as a terrorist state, making it more obvious and undisputed way.
The hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles that Iran fired could have caused mass civilian casualties and major infrastructure damage in Israel, just as they affect civilians and damage infrastructure in Ukraine on a daily basis. The only reasons the Iranian regime has failed in its goal of causing mass death and destruction in Israel are rooted in our country's air defense capabilities and the assistance of our allies in thwarting the attack.
Iranian threats to Israel's existence and world peace must be addressed and Iran must be dealt with accordingly.
- Is a new front opening for Israel because a new mobilization has been announced in the country?
- Iran continues to destabilize and threaten peace in the region by using its proxy terrorist organizations against Israel and the free world on several fronts, which is why Israel needs to respond accordingly to eliminate the threat to its people.
In Gaza, Iran is directly responsible for the capabilities of “Hamas“
and therefore also for the attack carried out by the organization on October 7. On the northern front, the Iranian-backed “Hezbollah” has been attacking Israel from Lebanon continuously since October 7. The Houthi's escalating attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, carried out with Iranian support, represent a significant and serious layer in the threat posed by Iranian proxies to the free world.
Israel is prepared for any situation - both defensive and offensive. Maintains a high level of competence of its army and soldiers. Like any other country, Israel has the right to defend itself in the face of Iran's massive attack. This time, our country successfully defended itself against the aggression of the Tehran regime and will continue to do so in the future.
Iran must be held accountable for its actions and decisive action must be taken to prevent Tehran from continuing to undermine regional stability and threaten the free world.
- Are we witnessing a game of nerves at the moment?
- Last Saturday's attack proves once again what Israel has been saying for years: Iran is behind terrorist attacks in the region and is also the biggest threat to regional stability and world order. Iran attacked Israel and has in the past attacked the Gulf states, threatens Jordan, threatens the US, sends weapons for use in the war against Ukraine, and threatens world peace.
This is why Tehran should never get a nuclear weapon.
Iran must pay a price for its aggression. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - which carried out the massive terrorist attack on the night of April 13th - should be immediately recognized as a terrorist organization. In addition, after the ballistic missile, cruise missile and drone attack on Iran, painful sanctions should be imposed, including but not limited to the area of missile use. The time has come for the world to put an end to the Tehran regime's relentless acts of aggression and continued undermining of regional and global stability. Israel will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens from any threats.
- Israel has announced that it will respond to Iran. And at the same time, we hear calls from leading world powers for restraint. How thin is the line between protecting national dignity and provoking a serious military conflict?
- As Israel has repeatedly warned, Iran's attack has shown unequivocally that the world cannot afford the regime to have strategic capabilities, such as the nuclear capabilities it is constantly seeking to develop, the ballistic capabilities, the consequences of which Iran has demonstrated last Saturday , or the space capabilities the country is working on.
If the world does not learn to block Iran and deny it strategic capabilities, we will directly deliver those capabilities into the hands of Tehran's emissaries only to discover that the Iranian drones used daily in attacks against Ukraine are only an example of the harm caused by Iran against world peace.
The State of Israel is strong and resilient and will never succumb to terror. Iran's malicious and brutal attack must be strongly and unequivocally condemned, as many leaders around the world have done. The responsibility for any future escalation, should it occur, will rest solely with Tehran, which has been threatening Israel and choosing the path of terror through its many proxy organizations for years. Israel will harm anyone who acts against it or plans to attack its territory and citizens.