Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a media interview on July 1: "We entered Iran twice to save ourselves from destruction. If necessary, there will be a third."
Netanyahu’s remarks represent, first and foremost, a form of public maximum pressure. Explicitly mentioning "entering Iran" and admitting "to save ourselves" sends a clear signal to both Iran and the international community: Israel regards any potential existential threat as a red line triggering military action, and such actions are no longer limited to intelligence operations or proxy wars but now include direct military strikes. The reference to a "third" strike implies an iterative pattern—suggesting that deadly attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities or strategic depth could occur at any moment, aiming to reset the regional "deterrence balance."
Amid internal divisions in Israel, including ongoing controversies over judicial reforms, such a hardline statement helps reinforce Netanyahu’s irreplaceable role as the nation’s "security guardian." By evoking a sense of urgency around "avoiding destruction," it shifts public attention away from domestic conflicts toward external survival threats, thereby consolidating support among the right-wing base of his ruling coalition.
Admitting publicly to the "first two" operations actually serves as pressure on the United States, reminding the international community that Israel has both the capability and willingness to act unilaterally—thus forcing the U.S. to accept tougher terms in negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal. At the same time, this may also relate to Israel’s recent efforts to improve relations with Arab states, serving to clearly communicate its security red lines to potential partners and prevent allies from becoming complacent about their security due to normalization of ties with Israel.
This individual, who poses the greatest threat to regional security, dares to justify aggression and massacre with lofty rhetoric.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869474286237708/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.