Israel’s Gantz vows to form regional alliance, timely response to Iran

JERUSALEM

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said Sunday that Israel would build an international alliance and make Iran pay the price at the right time and in the right manner for its attack on the country.

His remarks were made in a recorded video broadcast on his Facebook account amid escalating calls within the Israeli government to take immediate action against Iran.

“Iran launched an attack on Israel yesterday (Saturday), but it encountered the strength of the Israeli defense system,” said Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White party.

He considered Iran a “global problem and a regional challenge.”

Gantz added that Iran “also poses a threat to Israel.”

Confrontation between Israel and Iran is “not over yet, and the strategic alliance and regional cooperation system that we have built and endured its crucial test must be strengthened now specifically,” he said.

“In the face of the Iranian threat, we will build a regional alliance, and we will make Iran pay the price in the manner and at the appropriate time for us,” he added.

Gantz did not provide details on how this alliance will be built and the parties that will form it.

He said that “until today, we must remember that we have not yet completed our missions, including the return of the hostages (in Gaza) and removing the threat from the residents of the north (on the borders with Lebanon) and the south (on the borders with Gaza). We will continue the military campaign with determination and responsibility.”

During the last few hours, calls within the Israeli right-wing government escalated, demanding an immediate response to the Iranian attack and not waiting.

Late on Saturday evening, Iran launched about 350 missiles and drones towards Israel, which claimed that “99%” of them were intercepted with the assistance of “strategic partner” countries before entering Israeli territory, according to Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari.

While Hagari did not name these countries, Jordan announced intercepting flying objects that entered its airspace, while Israeli security sources said that the US and UK participated in intercepting what Tehran launched of aircraft and drones towards Israel.

The Iranian response, the first of its kind carried out by Tehran from its territory towards Israel and not through allies, was in retaliation for an attack on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria at the beginning of this April, which resulted in the killing of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including prominent General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

Israel has not officially recognized the assassination of Zahedi, but it has not denied its responsibility for the assassination either.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala