Netanyahu to Trump: “(…) the less we talk about it, the better (…)”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a statement today in which he, Netanyahu, summarized his latest conversation with US President-elect Donald J. Trump. PM Netanyahu detailed the main challenges facing Israel.

“(…) A year ago I said a simple thing: We will change the Middle East, and we are indeed changing it. Syria is not the same Syria, Lebanon is not the same Lebanon, Aza is not the same Aza, and the head of the axis – Iran – is not the same Iran. It also felt the comfort of our arm.

We are acting with strength and discretion, to bring security to all the countries in the region and to bring stability and security to all our borders. This does not mean that there are no more challenges ahead of us, there are. Both against Iran, its bloody proxies, and the other potential threats, because reality is dynamic – it changes rapidly.

So I want to say something about Syria – we have no interest in confronting Syria. We will determine Israel’s policy towards Syria according to the emerging reality on the ground. I recall that for decades Syria has been an active enemy state of Israel. It has attacked us again and again, it has allowed others to attack us from its territory, and it has allowed Iran to arm Hezbollah through its territory.

To ensure that this, will not happen again, we have taken a series of intense actions in recent days. Together with Defense Minister Katz, I have directed the IDF to thwart potential threats from Syria and to prevent terrorist elements from taking over near our border. 

In a few days, we destroyed capabilities that the Assad regime had built over decades. We did this to ensure that dangerous weapons would not be directed against us again from Syrian soil. We also hit the arms supply routes from Syria to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said it bluntly yesterday: “Hezbollah has lost its military supply route through Syria.” These words are, of course, further evidence of the severe damage we have inflicted on the entire Iranian axis.

But with that, I would like to both clarify and warn: We are committed to preventing Hezbollah from rearming. This is an ongoing test for Israel, we must meet it – and we will meet it. I say to Hezbollah and Iran in no uncertain terms – to prevent you from harming us, we will continue to act against you as necessary, in every arena and at all times.

I discussed all of this again last night with my friend, US President-elect Donald Trump. It was a very friendly, very warm and very important conversation.

We talked about the need to complete Israel’s victory, and we also talked at length about the efforts we are making to free our hostages.

“We continue to work tirelessly to bring home our hostages, both the living and the dead. And I add, the less we talk about it, the better, and so, with God’s help, we will succeed.”

Quoted from the press release of the PMO (15.12.2024). Shortened/translated by VonNaftali. Only the Ivrit version is authoritative. Pic AI-generated. Emblematic