Netanyahu says Israel ‘strongest power in Middle East,’ Shin Bet receiving record number of terror alerts

Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.

L-R: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Shin Bet chief David Zini attend a ceremony for outstanding employees of the Shin Bet security agency, on October 27, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)
L-R: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Shin Bet chief David Zini attend a ceremony for outstanding employees of the Shin Bet security agency, on October 27, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)

Israel has become “the strongest power in the Middle East,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, speaking at a ceremony for outstanding employees of the Shin Bet security agency.

“Today Israel is considered – and not as an exaggeration – the strongest power in the Middle East. We have changed the entire balance of deterrence and power,” he says at the event, held at President Isaac Herzog’s residence alongside Herzog and recently appointed Shin Bet chief David Zini.

“We achieved this thanks to the steadfastness of our people, our soldiers, our commanders, across all security branches, and through the sound decisions we’ve made,” he continues.

He hails the Shin Bet’s recent success in thwarting terrorist activity, saying the agency managed to prevent “over 1,200 attacks,” despite an unprecedented threat level.

“The service’s contribution in thwarting over 1,200 attacks is unimaginable…We’ve reached a situation where we have the highest number of alerts [of terrorist attacks] we’ve ever seen, and the lowest number of attacks actually carried out,” the premier says.

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