Transcript [00:00] Well, joining me now in the studio to [00:02] discuss where the country stands three [00:03] years after the Kamasled October 7th [00:06] massacre and the threats that it [00:08] continues to face is our friend, former [00:10] IDF international spokesperson and [00:12] senior fellow at the Foundation for [00:13] Defense of Democracies, Lieutenant [00:15] Colonel Jonathan Conrias. Jonathan, [00:18] great to have you back with us. And [00:19] you've been our resident security expert [00:22] since October the 8th, 2023. Back then [00:25] you were in uniform. Yeah. [00:26] >> Let's take a look. [00:28] This is in terms of casualties the worst [00:32] day in our history. Never before have so [00:37] many Israelis been killed by any of our [00:40] enemies in one day. We're 36 hour into [00:45] this war. And as Michael said, [00:48] unprecedented numbers, more than 700 [00:51] Israelis confirmed dead. And sadly, that [00:55] number is not final and it will rise. [00:59] Uh, as we're speaking, fighting is [01:02] ongoing in southern Israel. Sadly, we [01:06] have not yet been able to find and kill [01:10] all of the terrorists that were able to [01:12] get into Israel. That is what we are [01:15] doing as we speak. We've been doing that [01:18] since the early hours of yesterday [01:22] morning. And it's been many, many hours [01:25] of trying to find all of the terrorists [01:27] in order to safeguard our civilians. [01:32] Well, since then, whether it's been [01:33] Hamas, the Houthis, or the Iranians, [01:36] you've been there to give us your [01:37] insight and analysis. What do you think [01:40] about when you look back to that fateful [01:42] day? [01:45] >> I'm happy that the hostages are home, [01:47] most of them. I'm happy that we are far [01:51] better off than all of our enemies [01:53] combined. I cannot say that there's a [01:56] single enemy, not the Islamic Republic [01:58] of Iran, not in Lebanon, definitely not [02:01] Hamas in Gaza, the Iranian proxies in [02:04] Syria, not even the Houthis who are [02:06] still standing and firing and they're [02:08] still a nuisance. None of them are [02:10] better off today than they were on [02:11] October 7. And on all fronts, we've [02:14] either significantly degraded or at [02:17] least deterred our enemies from acting [02:20] meaningfully against Israel. And that I [02:23] think is no small achievement. So that's [02:25] number one. Number two, I think we see a [02:29] shift in where the center of the gravity [02:32] of the engagement or the battle of the [02:36] war is. It was military, tactical, real [02:40] world. On October 7, Israelis were [02:43] slaughtered. Israel was under attack. We [02:46] were able to, thanks to the bravery of [02:48] our soldiers, to decisions made by the [02:51] government, and to the excellence of our [02:54] security organizations, we've been able [02:56] to, as I said, successfully push most of [02:58] them back. We haven't defeated any of [03:01] them yet, and that still needs to [03:03] happen, but we've created a lot of space [03:05] for ourselves. And where I think that [03:07] the battle has now moved to is the [03:11] battle of narratives to information [03:14] warfare, lawfare, sanctions, media [03:18] warfare. That's the real battlefield now [03:21] which unfortunately has a lot of [03:24] potential negative potential against [03:26] Israel and one where we have not yet had [03:31] our October 7 moment as in actually [03:35] getting committed to fighting it. And [03:37] that's where we are 3 years after. [03:38] >> And I want to talk more about that [03:39] specific area. Uh before that let's talk [03:42] about Hamas. They're still standing. [03:44] They are unfortunately and they're still [03:46] holding about 2 million civilians in [03:48] Gaza hostage. They're holding southern [03:50] Israel essentially a little bit hostage [03:52] still. They haven't been defeated in the [03:55] proper military sense of enemies coming [03:58] up with their hands up and white flags [04:00] and surrendering to our will. that needs [04:04] to happen and I don't think that that [04:06] will happen as long as they have weapons [04:10] and as long as they have the civilian [04:12] population there that they use as their [04:15] human shields. Uh even though there's a [04:18] lot of countries and organizations [04:20] around the world who want Gaza to turn a [04:23] page and for there to be a different [04:24] future, I don't think that's in the [04:26] cards. As long as Hamas has AK-47s, [04:30] they will hold the civilian population [04:32] hostage. They will hold Israel hostage [04:34] and nothing good will happen in Gaza. [04:37] We'll just see year after year of human [04:39] suffering and misery. No hope for the [04:42] future as long as Hamas is there and [04:44] holds the civilian population hostage. [04:47] The only way that I see this settled and [04:50] for a different positive future for Gaza [04:53] and for Israel can happen is first step, [04:57] Israel needs to pull the rug underneath [04:59] the feet of Hamas. remove the most [05:02] essential component of their strategy [05:04] and that is the civilian population. The [05:06] human shields that they so cruy use in [05:09] their warfare. They need to be taken out [05:11] of the equation safely put on a [05:15] temporary location somewhere else out of [05:17] the battlefield whether it's in Egypt or [05:20] in Israel. Those I think are the only [05:21] two options and then for Israel to do [05:24] what needs to be done and that is to [05:26] really decisively and unequivocally [05:29] defeat Hamas. that hasn't yet happened [05:31] and for there to be a different future [05:33] that needs to happen. And what Israel [05:36] also needs to do is to come up with a [05:39] plan, its plan for the future, where we [05:43] define clearly how we see the future. Up [05:46] until now, it's been either our enemies [05:49] and adversaries or other parties around [05:52] the world defining the future for us. [05:55] And what I would like Israel to do is to [05:58] define and chart a path forward. And I [06:01] think that we can do much better. We can [06:04] defeat the enemy. We can take [06:06] initiative. And we can actually pave the [06:08] way to the future. And I'm hopeful that [06:11] if we're realistic, maybe in a [06:12] generation's time, we'll see a different [06:14] reality in Gaza. And of course, we just [06:16] passed a milestone which was a year of [06:19] not having a rocket attack from Gaza to [06:21] Israel, the first time in a couple of [06:24] decades. Um, so that's something for [06:26] sure. Let's talk about that's another [06:28] element of this Iranian ring of fire [06:30] surrounding Israel to protect uh the [06:32] Iran regime's nuclear uh capability. [06:36] Where does stand right now? [06:39] I think they're probably looking back [06:43] with great regret. You know, the few [06:45] people who were in decision-making [06:47] positions on October 8 who are still [06:49] alive, and that's not a lot of them, but [06:51] there's a few who were in positions and [06:54] are still around. I'm sure that they're [06:56] looking back at October 8 and sense what [06:59] a missed opportunity it was for them. [07:02] Israel was caught with its pants down, [07:06] perhaps even in the other room, [07:09] and they had what probably was the best [07:12] chance that they ever will ever have to [07:15] attack Israel and to execute the plans [07:17] that we knew they had. They had a very [07:20] well-trained force, Radwan, with [07:22] excellent equipment, highly skilled and [07:25] experienced murderers in the Radwan [07:28] unit. They had the ability to penetrate [07:31] into Israel. What they did was they [07:33] dropped the ball and they fumbled. When [07:35] go time came, they didn't go. And we are [07:38] very fortunate. We're lucky that they [07:40] didn't, that they weren't ready, that [07:42] Hamas didn't let them in on the actual [07:46] details of when Hamas was going to [07:47] launch the attack. Of course, [07:50] was aware that this was a planned and [07:52] they wanted to be part of it, but the [07:54] actual timing was a surprise for Israel. [07:58] unfortunately, but also for Hisbala. And [08:00] if I think we look back October 8, it [08:03] has been a long list of failure for [08:06] Hisbala. Many successive achievements [08:10] and tactical victories for Israel. I [08:13] think when Israel was forced to activate [08:17] the beepers, that was a real paradigm [08:21] shift for Hisbala and I think for the [08:24] Middle East. I dare even say for the [08:26] Iranian regime because that was the [08:28] first domino that allowed to fall, [08:32] Hassan to be eliminated. Syria fell [08:35] shortly after because the stop gap that [08:38] kept those forces, the jihadi forces, [08:41] the HTS forces in northern Syria at bay. [08:46] And once the regime fell, Syria fell and [08:49] that changed the map of the region. And [08:51] now Hezbollah 3 years after are in [08:55] significant strategic difficulties. They [08:58] cannot supply themselves steadily [09:00] because Syria isn't conducive to Iranian [09:04] convoys anymore. They are under [09:06] unprecedented political pressure [09:08] domestically in Lebanon. There's [09:10] unprecedented [09:12] external pressure from the US, from [09:15] Israel, from the Gulf countries, etc. [09:17] against Hezbala. And perhaps most [09:20] importantly, their own population [09:23] doesn't believe in jihad and doesn't [09:26] believe in the way of the mukawa, the [09:28] resistance as they did before. Andah are [09:32] no longer heroes of Lebanon and no [09:34] longer the glorious leaders of Islamic [09:38] revolt against what they call the [09:40] Zionist entity. They are losers on the [09:44] battlefield. They are losing [09:46] internationally and their own people is [09:49] being asked to pay the bill for the [09:51] escapades of the Iranian regime and [09:55] they're in difficult financial situation [09:57] as well. So there's a lot to be thankful [10:00] over [10:02] but there's still a lot of work that [10:03] needs to be done. Uh but if we want to [10:05] see things on a positive side, you know, [10:07] if we want to look at the situation [10:09] between Israel and the Lebanese state, [10:12] if we play our cards right and if we are [10:15] able to continue to um be part of an [10:19] international coalition, I think we can [10:21] see excellent things in the future for [10:24] the state of Israel and the state of [10:25] Lebanon. Much better security, much [10:28] better economic relations, trade [10:30] normalization, dare I even say peace. Uh [10:34] there's work that needs to be done, but [10:36] I think for the first time in I'd say 50 [10:40] years or so, the chances of actual peace [10:43] between Israel and Lebanon are there and [10:46] they're within our grasp. [10:48] >> And many before October 7th had never [10:50] heard of the Houthis. Of course, they [10:52] came alive during this last three-year [10:54] period, firing ballistic missiles and [10:56] drones at uh the state of Israel. But [10:59] what's the status now? They're rather [11:00] tied up fighting Saudi Arabia. They're [11:03] tied up, but they're doing a pretty good [11:04] job at tying down um the Saudi air [11:07] defenses. Unfortunately, they've been [11:09] provided with sophisticated weaponry [11:12] from the Iranian regime. They have [11:14] showed the ability to target using both [11:17] Chinese intel and Iranian intel and a [11:19] bit of Russian help. They've been able [11:22] to do what the Iranian regime hasn't [11:24] been able to do in earnest, and that is [11:26] to really affect the flow of oil coming [11:29] out of Saudi Arabia by striking [11:32] repeatedly various types of the Saudi [11:35] oil infrastructure. And that has real [11:38] world consequences for the Saudis, but [11:40] also for global oil prices and for [11:42] politics in the US. They are the last [11:45] Mohakin, the last man standing in the [11:47] Iranian team of terrorists and uh bad [11:51] actors. I think their fate will be [11:54] similar to Hezbollah and to Hamas and to [11:58] eventually what will happen to the what [12:00] happened to the Syrian regime and what [12:02] will happen to the Iranian regime. They [12:04] too will lose. They are in a different [12:07] situation because they're far away. [12:09] They're protected by landmass and they [12:13] are less exposed than Hamas who are [12:16] closer to Israeli aims and they're [12:20] further away. That's good for them. [12:23] Fortunately for them, they're fighting a [12:25] weak and disorganized nation state of [12:29] Saudi Arabia. Lots of tech, very little [12:32] leadership, very little resolve and [12:35] capacity to actually fight. And that's [12:37] unfortunate. And as long as the US and [12:40] Israel don't set our sights on the [12:44] Houthis and actually mean business when [12:46] it comes to dealing with them, I think [12:48] they'll enjoy that in between situation [12:51] where they'll continue to use standoff [12:53] measures and be a nuisance uh for the [12:56] world. As long as they don't transgress [12:59] the level of nuisance, they'll probably [13:02] be able to continue to exist. Uh but if [13:04] they transgress that boundary, I think [13:06] they will find serious trouble whether [13:08] it's the US or Israel. [13:10] >> And of course the IRGC in the belly of [13:12] the beast in Iran, how successful were [13:14] the campaigns against that regime? [13:16] >> Not enough. And I think if anything, I [13:19] think we can say that both Israel and [13:20] the US went in with not a clear enough [13:26] plan on what is it actually that is the [13:30] desired outcome and how do we see the [13:32] dust settle after we fire the Savos? Is [13:36] it only the nuclear program? Is it the [13:38] ballistic missiles, the export of [13:41] terrorism? Or is it also the actual [13:44] regime? For most Israelis, the answer is [13:46] that as long as this res regime exists, [13:49] we will know instability, war, jihad, [13:52] terrorism in the Middle East, and [13:54] Israelis will not be safe in Israel, and [13:56] Jews won't be safe around the world. And [13:58] Iranian expatriots won't be safe, and [14:02] American air bases in England won't be [14:04] safe from the nefarious [14:07] >> UK business bases in England. [14:09] >> Yes. And UK politicians for that sense [14:12] as well. As long as that regime exists, [14:14] I think that is reality. And the sooner [14:16] that regime is dismantled and brought to [14:19] its knees, the better for the Iranian [14:21] people, the better for the Middle East, [14:23] the better for Israel and for the West. [14:26] Uh what I regret is that there appears [14:28] to have been a lack of unity between [14:31] Israeli plans and American plans and a [14:33] lack of um the the leadership and the [14:37] actual resolve to go all the way and to [14:40] apply more tools, more pressure against [14:43] the Iranian regime and most importantly [14:46] to support the Iranian people in a more [14:49] meaningful way. At the end of the day, I [14:52] think that the days of the Iranian [14:53] regime are counted. I don't think that [14:55] they have the money or the resources and [14:58] eventually they will also run out of [15:00] political domestic support to continue [15:02] to sustain their corruption, their [15:04] cruelty, their exporting of terrorism [15:06] which is the business of the Islamic [15:09] Republic. Eventually, reality will catch [15:11] up. The real today is about 2.4 million [15:16] to a dollar. They continue to lose value [15:19] 3 4% every day and it's you know it's [15:22] almost freef falling. They're running [15:25] out of foreign income. Currently today [15:30] the uh level of oil going through the [15:34] home strait is almost back to prewar [15:38] levels. We're talking about 16 million [15:40] 17 million barrels per day as oppo as [15:43] opposed to 18 19 million before the war. [15:46] despite everything said and done. So the [15:48] battle of Hmuz has essentially been won [15:51] by the US by sentcom and that's is no [15:55] small achievement at all. And um the the [15:59] Iranian regime on the other hand isn't [16:01] able to export oil. They have no oil on [16:04] the water now. There's no external [16:06] revenues that are incoming. uh nobody's [16:10] uh buying Iranian oil because the US has [16:13] put in effect a very effective naval [16:15] blockade and that will have a toll. Now [16:18] what remains are ground borders, [16:21] terrestrial borders with Pakistan and [16:23] with Turkey and Azarbaijan and a few [16:26] other small locations the moment they'll [16:29] be tied down as well that will be make [16:32] things extremely difficult for the [16:34] regime. And now when Iranian planes [16:36] aren't welcome to fly or to have ground [16:39] services anywhere around the world, the [16:43] noose is tightening and eventually I [16:45] think reality will catch up with the [16:46] Iranian regime. And I can only hope that [16:49] it happens quickly that the transition [16:54] from horrible oppressive Islamic regime [16:57] to a form of government that is [17:00] applicable and that is chosen by the [17:03] majority of the Iranian people. What [17:05] type of democracy, what type of rule? I [17:08] can only hope for a liberal democracy [17:10] like in Israel. Maybe that's too big of [17:12] a hope. Maybe that's too big of a leap. [17:15] But at the end of the day, I hope that [17:16] the transition is short, relatively [17:19] benign, and not violent and not bloody, [17:22] or at least in a minimal level. What do [17:24] you make of the global reaction to [17:26] everything that's transpired since [17:28] October the 7th? [17:32] >> You know, I tweeted on October 7 in the [17:34] evening. I said, remember, I tweet I [17:36] wrote to my 400 followers at the time. [17:39] >> Then [17:40] >> then I said, remember how they started? [17:42] It started with an unprovoked attack by [17:45] an Iranian proxy. It will end with [17:47] Israeli victory. In the beginning, we [17:49] will enjoy global sympathy, but very [17:52] soon we will be blamed for our victory. [17:54] And that's more or less how things are [17:56] going. Yes, we are being blamed for [17:59] being so annoyingly persistent, for [18:03] wanting to live in our homeland, for [18:05] wanting to uh prosper here, for not [18:09] agreeing to be slaughtered, which I know [18:11] comes as it's very annoying for a lot of [18:13] people around the world. Very [18:15] frustrating. Uh but we Jews and Israelis [18:18] have that pesky quality to us. Um it's, [18:22] you know, there's many things to regret. [18:24] I think Europe in general, [18:27] some parts of the US, they're going in [18:30] very dangerous directions where they are [18:34] blind and oblivious to the threats that [18:37] they face in terms of political Islam, [18:40] Islamism, and the threats that they that [18:42] poses to their own societies. Not enough [18:46] people are aware of what the Muslim [18:47] Brotherhood is. Not enough of people [18:50] understand that the battle for the [18:53] future of the west will be not with [18:55] bullets but via ballots and that the [18:58] Islamists try are trying to and [19:00] unfortunately in some cases whether it's [19:03] London, New York, various councils in [19:05] Britain, various Senate positions in the [19:08] UK that are now up for elections. They [19:10] are winning by the ballots and they aim [19:12] to change the west from within using the [19:15] institutions that the west allows [19:18] Islamists to get access to. And you know [19:21] when you see various American [19:23] legislators or candidates that are up [19:25] for elections, it's not as if they're [19:27] hiding what their real motives are. You [19:30] just need to listen. But just like a lot [19:32] of Israelis didn't listen before October [19:34] 7, a lot of Westerners are not paying [19:37] attention. And unfortunately, you know, [19:40] how this whole war has played out is [19:42] that on the real battlefield, I think [19:46] we've done pretty well. Some pretty [19:48] astonishing achievements against all of [19:50] our enemies. First and foremost, the [19:52] Islamic Republic of Iran, but has been [19:55] neutered. Hamas has been reduced to an [19:58] army of thugs with AK-47s with no [20:01] strategic weapons and no production [20:03] capabilities. [20:05] And yet internationally I think Israel [20:08] has unfortunately [20:11] fared very poorly in the way the the [20:14] battle of the narratives. I think that [20:16] could have been different. And my only [20:19] my biggest regret or sadness about this [20:21] war is that we haven't yet really put on [20:25] the uniform and uh we're not on the [20:28] playing field yet and it's still an [20:30] empty field where enemies and [20:31] adversaries are scoring goal after goal. [20:35] And of course you're one of the people [20:37] very prominent now. You've grown from [20:38] those few hundred followers to millions [20:40] of views around the world. uh you're [20:42] squaring off against some of Israel's [20:44] worst enemies on TV, on news. And so, [20:48] how do you respond with the most vicious [20:51] smears and lies that are allowed to be [20:52] broadcast about Israel? [20:54] >> I think the most important response [20:56] isn't in media. The most important [20:57] response is what Israelis do, what the [21:00] Jewish people does around the world, [21:02] what Israelis in real world does. [21:05] Victory I believe is when there's a long [21:09] waiting list at the kindergarten in [21:12] Mulah and in N and B. That's real [21:15] victory. That's when Israel says to the [21:18] world, to its enemies, to its [21:20] adversaries, despite everything you've [21:22] thrown at us, we spit in your face and [21:25] we will continue to live and love and [21:27] prosper and if necessary fight and we're [21:30] necessary kill in order to do what we [21:33] are entitled to do and that is to live [21:35] in our ancestral homeland. So the most [21:37] important thing is the fighting spirit, [21:40] our academy, our democratic [21:43] institutions, our military, our defense [21:46] establishments and industry and the [21:48] societal glue that keeps us together and [21:50] keeps us strong and fighting. That's the [21:53] uppermost importance and that is what [21:55] everything else relies on. And what I [21:58] think Israel needs to do much better [22:00] with, you know, the slander, the lies, [22:02] and the disinformation campaign that is [22:04] waged against Israel is to understand [22:06] that it is indeed a threat to our [22:08] national security. And the state of [22:10] Israel, you and I both know, you've [22:12] written a book about it, has amazing [22:15] capabilities when it gets serious and [22:18] when it defines that this is an [22:20] objective that we need to to to take [22:23] care of. When Israel does that, then [22:25] amazing things happen. We turned a [22:27] desert country into a blooming [22:29] agricultural superpower that exports [22:32] water. No other neighbor has done that. [22:34] No other country has done it at our [22:37] scale. But that the real enabler was [22:41] that the state of Israel from its [22:43] elected officials to its professional [22:45] bureaucracy understood that this is [22:48] where we need to apply our skills and [22:51] our passion, our creativity and our [22:54] capabilities. and we haven't yet done [22:56] that. [22:57] >> Can only imagine what Israel could do [22:59] for the world if it were allowed to and [23:01] not have to concentrate so much on its [23:03] own defense of life. Let's talk a moment [23:05] about the USIsrael relationship. It's [23:07] under attack from both the far right and [23:10] the far left. So, what is your message [23:13] to American people about the importance [23:16] of that relationship? [23:18] >> I just came back from an APAC event in [23:20] Seattle. uh APEC does tremendous work [23:23] and what I told the people there is that [23:26] the the going is getting very tough and [23:28] now is the time when the tough people [23:30] get going and it's been tough for Jewish [23:33] Americans, pro-Israeli Americans for a [23:36] while. It is getting tougher and I don't [23:38] think that we're out of the woods yet. [23:40] But I think that what we should focus on [23:43] is building strength, resilience, [23:46] not trying to convince other people that [23:50] were nice, okay, benign, and enlightened [23:55] and uh progressive, but on strengthening [23:58] our own people, on educating our own [24:02] young, specifically around the world, on [24:05] connecting the Jews who live in Israel [24:08] with the Jews who don't yet live in [24:10] Israel and strengthening those bonds, [24:12] finding the common language, building [24:14] and and where it's necessary, mending [24:18] bridges. I think that's what we need to [24:20] focus on because yes, there is a almost [24:23] perfect storm brewing. I think we're in [24:26] for difficult circumstances when it [24:28] comes to the political situation in the [24:30] US. We're already in very hot water when [24:33] it comes to Europe and I fear and many [24:36] of my colleagues at FDD [24:38] have very significant um concerns about [24:42] the future plans of sanctions against [24:44] Israel and all kinds of legislation that [24:47] may be waged. And I think that what we [24:50] need to do is to again coming back to [24:52] what we spoke about before recognize [24:55] this this that this is where the battle [24:56] is now. This is the threat to our [24:59] national security. [25:01] build coalitions with those that are [25:03] willing and able and are brave enough to [25:05] stand by our sides. Bring people to our [25:08] side. Preach to the choir because the [25:10] choir needs to be preached to. There are [25:12] a lot of people who are confused. I [25:15] mean, I hear supporters of Israel who [25:17] know in the Kishka that uh Judea Samaria [25:21] is heartland Israel, but they're [25:23] inundated with settler violence. There's [25:25] a massive campaign and they too are [25:28] wavering in their understanding and they [25:31] are also under the impression that [25:33] Israel is doing bad things and Israelis [25:35] are doing lots of horrible, ghastly, [25:38] monstrous things in Judea and Samaria. [25:40] Sure, a few bad things have happened, [25:42] but the picture in reality is that [25:44] there's this size of Palestinian [25:46] violence against Jews and there's this [25:48] side of Jewish violence against Arabs. [25:51] This needs to be taken care of and [25:53] shouldn't be tolerated. But this is the [25:55] problem. But the media narratives of is [25:57] of course a microscope that enlarges and [26:01] really puts this out of proportion. And [26:03] a lot of people, the choir, a lot of [26:05] people around the world are are falling [26:07] for it. So we need to do a much better [26:10] job at getting truth out and confronting [26:13] the narratives against Israel. It's an [26:16] uphill struggle and I don't think it's [26:18] going to be easy. But I think like if [26:21] there's any country around the world [26:23] that is an a proof of if there's a will [26:26] there's a way that's Israel. And yes it [26:29] is difficult. It is a hateful [26:30] anti-semitic media environment with lots [26:33] of people who are sophisticated [26:35] wellunded and highly motivated to [26:38] undermine the very basic legitimacy of [26:40] the state of Israel. And we need to [26:41] confront them on their battlefield. Then [26:44] I think we can. [26:45] >> Absolutely. I have to get your thoughts [26:47] on the Air Dubai flight 1073. Remarkable [26:50] heroism. [26:52] >> You know, it reminds me of October 7. [26:53] We're three years from October 7. [26:56] Institutions failed. The systems failed. [26:59] A pilot who was radicalized before. It [27:03] was obviously evident through open- [27:05] source intel. And it should have been [27:07] communicated that he was a threat. a [27:10] person who should have no business [27:12] flying passengers on in a giant bomb [27:17] with the wings called commercial [27:19] aircraft to Israel was allowed to fly [27:22] and again just like on October 7 thanks [27:25] to improvisation heroism and perhaps [27:27] divine intervention a bigger catastrophe [27:31] was prevented credit to the amazing [27:34] Israelis and the Indian pilot who had [27:37] the erh uh coolheadedness and bravery to [27:41] deal with an almost impossible [27:43] situation. Shame on the politicians and [27:47] security officials who again were found [27:50] asleep behind the wheel. There's a lot [27:53] of answers that need to be provided by [27:55] Shabbach Mossad, the Minister of [27:58] Transport in Israel and the authorities [28:01] at Bengoron. Things need to be fixed and [28:04] they need to be fixed really quickly. I [28:06] think Israel pioneered dealing with [28:09] providing institutional answers to [28:12] Palestinian hijacking of commercial [28:15] aircrafts in the 70s and 80s and then [28:18] the world followed. We pioneered how to [28:20] do screening, how to do intelbased [28:24] preemptive [28:26] selectioning. We pioneered everything [28:28] related to baggage uh safety and uh on [28:33] inair safety with marshals etc. Many of [28:36] those were Israeli inventions that the [28:38] world now benefits from. Uh we should [28:41] have done better. The Israeli [28:42] establishment shouldn't have allowed [28:44] this situation to happen and there are [28:46] definite needs for for improvement. [28:50] I'm happy and I think that there's good [28:53] signs as well. The way the Saudis [28:55] treated Israelis was positive and I hope [28:58] that we can, you know, use this this [29:01] crisis to strengthen the ties with the [29:03] Emiratis and with other [29:07] countries in the Middle East who are [29:10] fighting the same battle that we are [29:12] fighting against extremism. And we [29:14] should have our allies and and our [29:16] friends close. [29:17] >> And as you said, thank God for the [29:19] Indian captain and those amazing Israeli [29:21] passengers. Absolutely. We saw the clip [29:23] at the top of the interview. 3 years ago [29:26] from today, we were in a much different [29:29] place. What's your wish for Israel and [29:31] the Jewish world and its allies in three [29:33] years time? [29:35] >> I think in three years time we will um [29:39] still be facing jihadi elements. They're [29:42] not going away. [29:44] Um, my biggest concern is actually not [29:47] for Israel. It's for Europe and the US. [29:50] I think they are still unaware of the [29:52] threat that they face. And what I wish [29:54] is for awareness and for a willingness [29:58] to fight and confront the threats that [30:01] Europe and the US face in terms of [30:03] radical Islamism. Not even radical, just [30:06] Islamism that needs to be confronted. [30:08] And I wish that the understanding will [30:10] be there and the split the core will be [30:13] there for the west to save itself. I [30:16] think Israel will be able to save itself [30:17] and we are strong enough [30:20] we are organized enough, powerful [30:22] enough, creative enough to continue to [30:24] fight and to prosper as we have proven. [30:27] I'm not sure that the west is and [30:30] political Islam is on the march. The [30:31] Muslim Brotherhood is on the march. And [30:34] what I wish is for that to be rolled [30:36] back and for Europeans and Westerners to [30:39] fight for their culture, to fight for [30:41] their future, to fight for the future of [30:43] Western civilization. It is at danger [30:46] and they are not even awake and [30:47] understanding the threat. I hope the [30:51] most important thing for Israel I think [30:53] will be a different political atmosphere [30:56] that will promote unity that will [30:59] promote us working together towards the [31:03] enhancement of our national security and [31:04] prosperity that's been missing over the [31:08] last few years and I hope to see that [31:09] change a different political discourse [31:11] in Israel different leadership in the [31:13] sense of bringing people together [31:16] working together finding the common face [31:19] and the common things that keeps us [31:21] together. I would hope for [31:24] those who serve and are loyal citizens [31:27] of Israel to be in power and make [31:29] decisions in Israel, not for outlying [31:33] parties in Israel to make decisions that [31:36] they have no business making. And um I [31:40] hope and I believe that we will continue [31:42] to go from strength to strength. I am [31:44] positive about the future. I think we [31:46] are blessed with tremendous human [31:48] capital. We are blessed with good [31:50] fortunes and uh with people who are [31:54] brave enough, hardworking, [31:57] industrious and creative. And I think uh [31:59] the world mostly specifically our [32:02] adversaries and haters, they're in for a [32:04] lot of disappointment because we will [32:05] continue to deliver. Well, we will have [32:07] many opportunities to meet over the next [32:09] three years to uh see how that [32:11] assessment is going. But in the [32:13] meantime, we thank you for your service [32:14] post October 7th. We thank you for being [32:16] part of these briefings and uh speaking [32:18] to our audience and giving your insight. [32:20] We value you very much. Lieutenant [32:21] Colonel Jonathan Kri, thank you very [32:23] much. [32:23] >> And I can only hope that staying with us [32:25] keeps up the excellent work that you're [32:27] doing. [32:27] >> We promise to do that. Thank you.
