Outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz told a graduating class of Israeli Air Force Pilots that they might be bombing Iran in “two or three years” as Israel has been preparing for strikes on the country.
“Israel has significantly increased its preparedness in recent years and is preparing for the possibility of an attack on Iran,” Gantz said, according to The Times of Israel. “You may cross the sky to the east in two or three years and take part in an attack on nuclear sites in Iran, for which we are preparing.”
The speech was likely Gantz’s last as defense minister as the government of incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to be sworn in on Thursday, but the threats against Iran will continue. Netanyahu has tapped a member of his Likud party and major Iran hawk, Tzachi Hanegbi, to lead Israel’s National Security Council.
In recent years, Hanegbi repeatedly threatened Iran, including in November, when he said Netanyahu would likely order attacks on the country if the US doesn’t reach a stricter nuclear deal.
Other members of the outgoing government addressed the Israeli pilots on Wednesday and made threatening comments about Iran, including Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who mentioned recent US-Israeli military drills that simulated attacks on Iran.
“Two weeks ago we held a large-scale joint exercise with the US Air Force. The exercise, which simulated an attack thousands of kilometers from Israel’s borders, was the first of a series of planned exercises in the near future,” Lapid said.
President Isaac Herzog told the pilots that the Israeli Air Force could reach Iran. “It can reach any site, near or far, at any time and by any means we choose. Our enemies also understand this. Yes — including in Iran,” he said.
Israel frequently bombs Syria and occasionally attacks Lebanon, and Gantz alluded to the fact that the pilots will likely be targeting these countries. “Others of you may have to fly deep into territory in Lebanon and Syria or head out on missions to rescue Jews around the world,” he said.
What a crock! Israel must only be saying this as subterfuge…
Yes, Israel is manipulating the US, continuing the manipulation it has exercised for many years. Isn’t Israel an adult capable of managing itself and its own affairs without aid from Dad?
Year of the dragon or year of the snake. Both serpentine, but behave very differently.
People who should such things should automatically volunteer themselves and their family to the front lines.
Well, that is a step forward from “bombing tomorrow”.
😉
Imagine the furor if an Iranian defense minister said Iran might be attacking Israel in two or three years. The media would rend their garments.
The Iranians don’t talk.They patiently wait for the right moment-time is on their side.
I think the larger point should be that no one, no country, should make such pronouncements.
Time, demographics, technology, history, Russia, China …
Standard answer. Can’t even imagine what might happen if an Iranian defense minister said that? I bet you can. But let’s avoid reality and go with Iran just waiting for that right moment to finally destroy Israel and make themselves into a cratered wasteland by doing so.
A possibly relevant quote from an article by Michael Oren, at the time Israel’s ambassador to the USA, in the journal Foreign Policy (https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/04/25/the-ultimate-ally-2/)
“Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig’s observation 30 years ago still
resonates today: ‘Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the
world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier,
and is located in a critical region for American national security.’ ”
So, is or is not Israel basically another outpost of the US empire?
I think his point was that Israel’s interests are very much in line with America’s, and that Israel does not rely on American forces to protect her (unlike Europe, South Korea etc).
Really??? Billions of dollars to fund weapons. Weapons sold to Israel with the agreements wiped away in a bill (from the days of Alan Cranston forward). Not saying a peep about Israel’s nuclear arsenal, which should abrogate any financial agreements between the U.S. and I. This isn’t reliance? Come on, man.
Again, he said that American soldiers are not fighting on behalf of Israel.
The US saved Egypt in 1956;The USSR saved Egypt and Syria in 1967 and 1973.
This from Bennet on December 6th, 2022;
“Iran is enriching uranium at an unprecedented rate and moving dangerously close to getting their hands on nuclear weapons,” Bennett said in an interview with The Telegraph on Saturday.
And three weeks later this from Gantz:
“You may cross the sky to the east in two or three years and take part in an attack on nuclear sites in Iran, for which we are preparing.”
Do these guys talk to each other to get their “stories” straight? Or does dangerously close mean two to three years?
The truth is Iran has no intention of getting a nuclear weapon. It makes no strategic sense for Iran and it is against their religion. A militant Iranian government couldn’t even maintain security over a nuclear weapon development project when Ayatollah Khameni issued a fatwah declaring nuclear weapons un-Islamic.” The fatwah imposes a religious duty on millions of Iranians, including scientists and engineers to stop a nuclear weapons program. The Iranian nuclear program is designed to insure that Iran will have nuclear technology independent of foreign nations to insure its position as a regional power after its oil reserves become depleted.
But Iran is the leading strategic threat to Israel because of its uncompromising support of the Palestinians and the development of Iran’s economy, political leadership and conventional nuclear capabilities. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein the leading goal of Israel foreign policy has been to get the US into a war with Iran. An Israeli first strike might be a way to accomplish that. Hostility against the Islamic Republic unites the incoming and outgoing Israeli governments.
Iran has its IRG march around a mock up of the Dome of the Rock. They mean it.
You don’t understand what they mean. They mean to liberate the Palestinians, not enslave the Israelis.
Hostility against Iran is also one of the few things our R’s and D’s agree on. And that incoming Israeli government is scary. It looks like Bibi had to swing some deals with some real nutjobs to get back in power.
Zionism is the scary thing. Bibi just puts it up front. Like Trump is more honest than Biden.
yes the honesty just pours right out of trump
I said honesty. Not goodness.
Trump is a stupid self-centered delusional narcissist. He doesn’t lie because he believes that whatever he wants to be true becomes true when he says it.
wow that is quite a loophole that he has inadvertently stumbled on
No shortage of nutjobs there.
Then the Peace Talks should start today…
The problem with statements like this, is they make it look like that is their long term plan.
In 3 years when the bombing begins, they are going to try to state that this is a reaction to current events and that they had no choice.
Warmongers from the past, the present, and into the future.
thanks for the warning! plenty of time to get ready to get ready
Israel is very casual about it, oh and somewhat matter of fact.
You know if Gantz is saying such things aloud , he’s probably lying.
You better hurry Gantzy… Iran is taking delivery of 24 Russian SU-35 fighter jets in coming weeks…! Prepare for a dog fight in skies of Natanz and Fordow sites…!
Horse’s arse blurts out what?
Gantz Says Israel Might Be Destroyed in ‘Two or Three Years’
This could be Gantzy last lie of 2022…! If not, why wait that long and do it in Two to Three Months…?!
I know…! Waiting for Saudi Arabia to establish normal diplomatic relation so they would allow you to fly your fighter jets above their soil…!!! Keep waiting… Not gonna happen…!!!
The Zionists are waiting for the US to do their dirty deed.
The US is busy in Ukraine and in South China Sea, has no time for Iran for now.