Israel will defeat all its 'radical, crazy, fanatic' enemies, Israeli national security advisor tells ALL ISRAEL NEWS
Hanegbi says Israel ready to welcome Biden, admires his ‘readiness to be with us in tragedy’
Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi gave a press conference Tuesday afternoon, where he addressed questions from reporters about a range of topics related to the ongoing conflict and the upcoming visit of U.S. President Joe Biden.
ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg got the chance to ask Hanegbi a couple of questions outside the press briefing.
“What is your main message to the American president as he’s coming in, and what do the American people need to hear?” Rosenberg asked Hanegbi.
“The Israeli society admires the American president's readiness to be with us in times of unprecedented agony,” Hanegbi answered. “We are excited to welcome him tomorrow.”
Hanegbi said Israel is also moved by how the U.S. leaders and American people “understand the atrocities that happened here.”
Rosenberg also asked Hanegbi about keeping Hezbollah from opening a new front.
“We welcome the American involvement in conveying messages of deterrence. But if they will not be effective, we will make sure we win over all the other radical, crazy, fanatic leaders that maybe would like to initiate a new adventure in the region.”
During the press briefing, Hanegbi referred to an article in the Hebrew press which claimed the U.S. president would be coming to deter an Israeli ground campaign, saying that Biden was coming to give Israel a “bear hug” intended to restrict Israel's options.
“This is a statement that causes injustice to a true friend who proves in a time of Jacob’s Trouble that there is no more loyal ally. The president comes to hug us, not a bear hug. A good hug, a loving hug, a hug for every fighter, for all of Israel, for every Jew. We will welcome the president with a hug and gratitude," Hanegbi said in response.
Hanegbi also thanked Biden for his support for Israel militarily.
“President Biden at the very beginning of the campaign instructed the US Army to provide the IDF with all the necessities of the war,” Hanegbi said. “The president ordered the advancement of frequent naval and air power to our region at record speed, and to position it vis-à-vis Lebanon and Iran. In practice, the president is making it clear to our enemies that if they think of joining the attack on Israeli citizens, there will be American involvement here. Israel will not be alone.”
Hanegbi referred to Hamas using its citizens as human shields, saying the terror group wanted to sacrifice the civilian population. He also said that Israel is willing to work with the U.S. to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
Israel wants assurances that humanitarian aid will not reach Hamas, which recently stole supplies from UNRWA, Hanegbi added.
Regarding the hostages, the national security advisor said they remain “a top priority” for Israel.
Hanegbi addressed the issue of the intelligence and leadership failure that allowed the massacre to happen.
“There will come a time when everyone will deal with it, former and current prime ministers, military chiefs, defense ministers, Military Intelligence. Countless people will probably have to do some soul-searching about how they thought Hamas would be deterred from going to this madness that it brought upon itself, the issue of responsibility will be examined.”
For now, he said, Israel's focus is on winning the war and he issued a warning to Israel’s enemies.
“Every person who was part of the criminal attack on Israel, we will kill him, it doesn't matter if now in a bomb shelter or in an underground tunnel. We will kill him,” Hanegbi warned.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.