A new chapter has unfolded in the Middle East following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the outset of a press conference in Jerusalem, his first in 99 days.
Highlighting Iran's extensive financial and military support for Assad, Netanyahu emphasized the regime's brutality towards its own citizens. He stated that Assad’s downfall was the “direct result of the heavy blows we landed on Hamas, on Hezbollah, and on Iran,” referring to Syria as “a forward post of Iranian terror” and a critical weapons pipeline to Hezbollah.
Netanyahu also said, “Nasrallah was the 'axis' leader, and his assassination was a turning point.”
The Israeli PM further remarked, “I said we would change the face of the Middle East, and this is happening,” asserting the transformative impact of Assad’s fall on the region’s dynamics.
Turning to the Golan Heights, Netanyahu underscored its strategic importance to Israel. “Today, everyone understands the great importance of our presence there on the Golan, and not on the foothills of the Golan,” he said. He reiterated that Israel’s hold over the territory is vital for its security and sovereignty.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to US President-elect Donald Trump for recognizing Israel’s 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights during his first term in office. “The Golan will be part of the State of Israel for eternity,” Netanyahu declared, affirming Israel’s determination to maintain control over the area.
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