Netanyahu Urges Iranians to Rise Against Regime

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a direct appeal to the Iranian people, urging them to “take to the streets.” He also offered Israel’s expertise in water technology, asserting that Iranians should not be complacent as they face a significant crisis and work toward changing their regime.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Netanyahu addressed the “proud people of Iran” while circumventing the restrictions of Iran’s strictly controlled media. He provided a bleak assessment of the situation in Iran following comments made by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi about the country’s numerous issues, including water shortages and rising inflation. “By September or October, there’s no water in the dam,” Raisi warned.

Netanyahu agreed, noting, “Everything’s falling apart.” He pointed out the dire conditions that even the scorching summer heat cannot mask. “In this brutal summer heat, you don’t even have clean cold water to give to your child. Such hypocrisy,” he lamented, emphasizing that this reality is unfair to the Iranian people, especially to their children.

In his remarks, Netanyahu highlighted the regime’s decisions. Instead of addressing essential infrastructure needs, he accused it of funneling resources to terrorist organizations. “The Tehran tyrant preferred to send you hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas and Hezbollah, rather than investing in your hospitals, schools, and roads,” he stated.

Netanyahu’s message also included specific offers from Israel, known for its advanced water recycling and desalination technologies, suggesting they could significantly improve Iran’s water crisis. He recalled launching a Persian Telegram channel nearly a decade ago, which quickly gained 100,000 followers, aimed at sharing techniques for water management.

“The thirst for water in Iran is only consistent with the thirst for freedom,” he remarked, painting a hopeful picture of what could be achieved with Israeli support. He encouraged Iranians to envision a future where they could enjoy recreational activities again, like water skiing at Karaj Dam, despite the current dry conditions of the Farazad River.

Netanyahu noted that this isn’t just an unattainable dream; it’s a potential reality, but only if the leadership ceases to impose tyranny and poverty on its citizens.

The Israeli leader strongly criticized the regime’s human rights violations, showcasing literature from Iranian opposition figures whose work appeared only outside the country. “For 46 years, you have been denied the most basic human rights: the right to freely express yourself,” he stated.

His message targeted Iran’s leadership, invoking the nation’s rich cultural heritage. “You, their great descendants of Cyrus, deserve more. You don’t deserve a leader who abandons his people during their hardest times,” Netanyahu said.

The call for revolution was marked by a strong urgency. Netanyahu encouraged boldness among Iranians, declaring, “Go on the street. I demand justice. I demand accountability. I protest tyranny. I build a better future for my family and all Iranians.”

In his support for the Iranian uprising, he assured them, “You are not alone. I stand with you. Israel stands with you. The whole free world stands with you. The cruel Tehran tyrant will not last long.” His adaptation of Theodor Herzl’s famous quote about the Jewish state concluded with a powerful message: “If that is the case, free Iran is not a dream. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to fight for freedom.”