Netanyahu Calls Next Year A Struggle To Destroy Iran's Axis

PM Netanyahu flanked by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Israeli Defense Minister Katz while celebrating the Jewish New Year with the military. (GPO/Haim Zach)

JAKARTA - Israel will eliminate the militant group Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised at a ceremony ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday (the new Jewish year) with Israeli military leaders.

"We are struggling to defeat our enemies, and we must destroy the Iranian axis and we have the power to do so. This is what we will face next year, which could be a historic year for Israel's security," Netanyahu said while attending the IDF General Staff Forum with IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Israeli Defense Minister Katz. , quoted from The Times of Israel September 22.

"I would like to reiterate, we are determined to achieve all of our war goals; not only in Gaza, not only to complete the destruction of Hamas, to free our hostages, and to ensure Gaza is no longer a threat to Israel, but also in other areas to open up opportunities for security, victory, and peace," Netanyahu said.

"This requires two fundamental qualities: unity in difficult times, and determination at all times," Netanyahu said in the forum, adding "Hopefully this year it will be a year of security, victory, and unity."

Earlier, Netanyahu in a video message of the Jewish New Year said Israel would continue to fight in Gaza, and would set up a basis for more peace agreements in the region.

"We will continue to act with determination until we reach all war goals, in order to secure our future on our beautiful land," he said.

"And by doing that, we will also pave the way to expand the circle of peace," he said.

He boasted Israel had removed existential threats from Iran over the past year.

"We attacked the Iranian axis hard. We did it in Lebanon, in Syria, in Yemen, and in Iran itself," Netanyahu claimed.

"Our forces are now operating with great power in the Gaza Strip to defeat Hamas by a landslide and bring home all of our hostages," he added.

After sparking a furore last week by saying Israel may have become a "super Sparta", Netanyahu said Israel "will continue to advance our economy and security through technology, cyber, artificial intelligence, our defense industry, and unrivaled developments in the world and which break the limits of imagination."

"Hopefully this will be a year of unity, a year of victory, a year of peace," he hoped.