Prime Minister Netanyahu says the greatest existential threat facing Israel is the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear arms, an alleged effort that he warns endangers the Jewish state.
He also calls for covert operations against Iran to continue, speaking at a ceremony for new Mossad chief David Barnea, who is replacing outgoing spymaster Yossi Cohen.
“I’ve told this to my friend for 40 years, [US President] Joe Biden, and I said to him, ‘With or without a deal, we will continue to do everything in our power to thwart the armament of Iran with nuclear weapons,'” Netanyahu says.
He adds: “If we need to choose — I hope this won’t happen — between friction with our great friend the US and removing the existential threat — removing the existential threat wins out.”
From right to left: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, new Mossad chief David Barnea and the intelligence’s agency’s outgoing leader Yossi Cohen on June 1, 2021. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
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