Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned Thursday that “if Iran attacks Tel Aviv, Israel will attack Tehran and destroy any Iranian military post in Syria that threatens Israel.”
He said this in a comprehensive interview given to the Saudi news website Elaph, which operates from London. Lieberman made it clear that Israel is not interested in a war with anyone, but will not allow an Iranian presence in Syria – whatever the price. He also denied that Israel had assassinated Hamas engineer Fadi al-Batsh in Malaysia.
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This is a rare interview by the defense minister with the Arab media.
“We have not interfered in the fighting in Syria since it began seven years ago,” Lieberman added. “There are Iranians, Hezbollah, Russians, Da’ash, and other militias, all of whom are fighting for everyone, I wish success to everyone there, but we are not interfering, but Iran is trying to establish bases in Syria and equip them with advanced weapons. I can not sit idly by as I watch Iran do this close to the Golan, supporting Hezbollah, Syria and Lebanon.
But Iran is trying to establish bases in Syria and equip them with advanced weapons. From there the islamic state wants to attack us. I can not sit idly by as I watch Iran do this close to the Golan, supporting Hezbollah, Syria and Lebanon.
“I say clearly: every outpost in Syria where Iran seems to be trying to settle militarily will destroy it. We will not allow this, whatever the price. We hear many threats (from Iran). If they attack Tel Aviv, we will attack Tehran.
If there is no quiet in Tel Aviv and in Israel, there will be no Tehran. I know what I’m saying and I do not advise anyone to try us. We are ready for all possibilities. The Russians know that we will not allow Iran to build bases in Syria and to transfer advanced weapons to attack us. There are calls and there is no conflict with them.”
In the Palestinian case, the Israeli defense minister told Elaph that the solution must be regional, not bilateral, not in stages, but in parallel and simultaneously, the two-state solution, peace with the Arab states and the solution of the situation of the Arabs of Israel, and the exchange of land and population between Israel and the Palestinians. The transfer of Arab areas such as the Triangle area in Israel from Israeli sovereignty to Palestinian sovereignty through the transfer of borders to the west.
