Netanyahu Declares U.S.-Israeli Operation a Historic Success

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the recent joint operation with the United States against Iran fulfilled a long-standing commitment to ensure “never again” would the Jewish state face annihilation. He stated that the attack represented “the hardest blow in history” to the Iranian regime, claiming it helped prevent another Holocaust.

Speaking at Israel’s National Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Yad Vashem, Netanyahu reflected on the ongoing campaign against Iran, stressing its importance in protecting the Jewish people. “Every year, I stand here and swear: I will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons,” he reiterated. “As Prime Minister of Israel, I promised – there will be no second Holocaust. This year, we made that promise a reality.”

The ceremony, which began the Day of Remembrance for Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes, was held under heightened security and broadcast nationwide, commemorating the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust while also addressing Israel’s current security challenges.

In his address, Netanyahu highlighted a significant shift in Jewish vulnerability over time, contrasting the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust with the military strength of modern Israel. “During the Holocaust, we were a people who were being abused and crying out in pain,” he said. “Today, our nation is stronger and more powerful than ever before.”

He indicated that the joint operation with the United States had delivered a major blow to Iran. Netanyahu explained that both countries’ efforts had critically diminished Iran’s military framework and strategic assets. Known in Israel as “Operation Roaring Lion” and in the U.S. as “Operation Epic Fury,” this operation followed prior attacks aimed at Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

In a televised address, he declared, “We have succeeded in destroying our nuclear program and our missile program,” claiming that Iran now lacks any operational enrichment facilities and has virtually eliminated its missile production capabilities.

Netanyahu framed the stakes of the joint operation in historical terms, emphasizing that inaction could have led to Iran’s nuclear facilities being remembered similarly to Nazi death camps. “If we had not taken action, the names of Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Parchin could have been remembered like Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek and Sobibor,” he warned.

He dismissed hypothetical discussions about whether earlier interventions could have changed the course of history, stressing the necessity for decisive actions today. “History has no ‘what if’s,” he said, adding, “A terrible disaster has occurred… six million of our brothers and sisters have been murdered.”

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is taking measures to ensure that future generations won’t grapple with regrets over missed opportunities. He described Israel’s broader campaign against “Iran’s axis of evil,” which includes actions in various regions, such as Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, aiming to counter extremist leaders.

The prime minister highlighted the unprecedented collaboration with the United States, noting joint operations across the Middle East. “Who could have imagined 80 years ago that our pilots would join American pilots to protect the Middle East,” he remarked, calling this partnership a historic shift in regional power dynamics.

Additionally, he stated that the effects of their campaign extend beyond immediate security for Israel; they also serve to safeguard the broader Western world. “Together we are protecting not only ourselves but the entire world,” he asserted.

While addressing Europe, Netanyahu cautioned that the continent has not fully absorbed the lessons of the Holocaust, criticizing it for losing its identity and commitment to defending civilization against threats. He noted, “serious moral weaknesses are prevalent in Europe today,” stressing the importance of distinguishing right from wrong.

Reflecting on a recent meeting with Holocaust survivors, Netanyahu reassured them that the Jewish people now possess means to defend themselves against existential threats. “Today we are hunting the oppressor,” he stated, declaring that Israel has obstructed plans for destruction, affirming, “The Holocaust will never happen again.”

In conclusion, he depicted Israel as a result of a profound transformation, moving “from the Holocaust to rebirth,” and pledged that the country would continue to be a “beacon of freedom, progress and prosperity.”