From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 9, 2024
Gantz: Fall of Assad regime presents Israel with ‘an opportunity of historic proportion’
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The fall of the Assad regime in Syria presents Israel with “an opportunity of historic proportion,” National Unity chairman Benny Gantz tells reporters in the Knesset, asserting that Israel “must develop our relations with the Druze, Kurds and other groups in Syria.”
Speaking ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting, the former IDF chief of staff and defense minister calls to “weaken Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon, and ultimately invite Lebanon into the circle of moderate states.”
But despite losing one of its key allies in the region, Gantz says Iran has not been defeated, and “we must not allow ourselves into a false sense of hubris; a wounded animal is more dangerous. Iran is more dangerous today,” calling “Iran’s rush to nuclear capabilities is a realistic possibility.”
“For that reason exactly we must prepare ourselves for rapid and dramatic action. We must build our own ‘ring of fire’ — regionally, economically and legally — and ready ourselves for swift military action,” Gantz continues.
“This is the time for both actions and words. This is the time to reach out to Saudi Arabia, the leaders of nations we are at peace at, and nations of the Abraham Accords – and together build a plan. Normalization with Syria and Lebanon premised on Israeli power and might are realistic goals. Normalization vs. ‘Iranization’, that is what is at stake.”
Regarding Syria, Gantz states that Israel “must now set the rules of the game: no Iranian shipment will cross into Syria. No Iranian foothold will be accepted on our border. And no threat will be built near our towns.”
Turning to the issue of a hostage deal with Hamas, Gantz says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “no excuse” not to bring the hostages home and that “he must not give in to political pressure.”
“We must not settle for a partial deal, we must take advantage of the situation to bring everyone back,” he insists, adding that “whoever thinks that we will have no way to return to fighting, I suggest that they look at what the IDF is doing in Lebanon these very days.”
Asked by a reporter if he believes Netanyahu had listened in on his calls during his term as IDF chief, Gantz responds that he has no knowledge of any spying but would not be surprised.
“I wouldn’t fall out of my chair if so [but] I don’t know,” he responds.
Last week, former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen told the Kan broadcaster that Netanyahu had asked him in 2011 to monitor government ministers and top defense officials to ensure they were not leaking information.
The report prompted a harsh exchange between Gantz and Netanyahu, with the former’s party issuing a statement lamenting what it described as the prime minister’s “deteriorating cognitive ability.”
