Enemies trying to rearm, but there are chances to expand peace, Netanyahu says

Continuing his speech at the state ceremony marking October 7 Remembrance Day at Mount Herzl, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that “great challenges” from Israel’s enemies as well as “great opportunities” for peace lie ahead as the war in Gaza winds down.

While hailing the military successes of the war, Netanyahu says, “Great challenges still lie ahead from our enemies who seek to rearm,” in possible reference to the regime in Tehran, whose nuclear facilities Israel attacked in June.

“Great challenges – and alongside them, dramatic and great opportunities to widen the circle of peace,” he says, reiterating his assertion that Israel is poised to expand normalization and peace agreements with neighboring Arab countries following the war.

Netanyahu adds that national unity is required moving forward: “We are operating on both levels at once, and what is needed on both is unity – unity in war and unity in peace. We will achieve all our goals. Only through internal cohesion, mutual responsibility, and strengthening the bonds that unite rather than divide.”