Transcript [00:00] Happy Passover everybody. [00:02] You know, we've been having the kids [00:04] over and it's been festival season and a [00:06] lot of celebrations, a lot of time in [00:08] the synagogue and it's been hard to fit [00:10] videos in. I'm trying to do my best here [00:12] to get some some good content for you. [00:15] I'm obviously not in a normal studio [00:17] right now. Now with this video I want to [00:19] do something a little bit different than [00:21] usual. I'm going to read in full Prime [00:25] Minister Netanyahu's pre-Passover [00:27] address, the official English transcript [00:30] that was released by the Prime [00:31] Minister's office. And the reason I'm [00:34] going to do it is that I I believe that [00:37] this was a very important speech. Now [00:38] under normal circumstances, what I would [00:40] do with an important speech, as I do [00:42] with so many of the videos on this [00:44] channel, is I would play the full the [00:46] full clip. It was about 11 minutes long [00:48] and then I would comment, but because it [00:49] was given in Hebrew and in the past in [00:53] some of my recent videos where I played [00:55] a Hebrew language clip with subtitles, I [00:58] saw in the comments that a number of you [01:00] said that you would prefer it if I just [01:02] said it in English because you're [01:04] listening to the YouTube video, you're [01:06] not necessarily watching it. You might [01:07] be doing something else while you're [01:09] listening to this and you'd rather I say [01:12] it than than listen to it in Hebrew. So, [01:15] I am actually going to read you this [01:17] entire speech. Now, again, the reason [01:20] I'm doing this is I think it was one a [01:21] very important speech. It was I think it [01:23] was one of the most important speeches [01:24] of Prime Minister Netanyahu's long and [01:26] storied career. [01:28] Cuz it wasn't just a war update, it [01:30] wasn't just a political speech. It was [01:32] in many ways [01:34] a victory speech and there were a number [01:36] of key moments in it, messages that he [01:38] was giving which are not It's not just [01:41] that I'm saying, "Wow, this is a [01:42] wonderful speech." [01:43] It also signaled in certain significant [01:46] ways what what might be happening in the [01:50] days and weeks to come. Prime Minister [01:52] Netanyahu was crafting messaging in a [01:54] very particular way for the Israeli [01:56] people. [01:57] Um it was also a great speech. So, [01:59] that's what I want to do. I know it's a [02:00] little bit unusual, a little different [02:02] than what I usually do, but let's go [02:04] through the speech together and then I [02:06] have [02:07] uh a fair amount to say about it. [02:10] Okay, so here it is. Here is the speech. [02:16] My brothers and sisters, citizens of [02:18] Israel, [02:19] on the eve of this festival of freedom, [02:21] Israel is stronger than ever. The entire [02:24] world hears our lion's roar in our [02:26] struggle against the evil regime in [02:28] Iran, a struggle in which we have [02:30] achieved immense, enormous [02:32] accomplishments. [02:34] But at the same time, there are painful [02:36] costs. Only yesterday we lost four of [02:39] our best sons. [02:40] On behalf of the citizens of Israel and [02:42] on behalf of myself and my wife Sarah, I [02:45] send our deepest condolences to the [02:47] families of the fallen. We all embrace [02:49] with love the families who lost what is [02:51] most precious to them and we all embrace [02:53] with love our heroic wounded, [02:56] wounded in body and soul. [02:59] For we are one people bound by the cords [03:02] of a common destiny to ensure our [03:05] existence and our future. [03:07] Marking one month of our joint campaign [03:09] with the US, we are systematically [03:11] crushing the terrorist regime that for [03:13] decades cried, "Death to America, death [03:16] to Israel." It is true, in every [03:19] generation they rise up to destroy us. [03:22] That's a quote from the Passover Seder [03:24] text, the Haggadah, [03:26] that in every generation they rise up to [03:28] destroy us and in this generation, the [03:30] regime of the Ayatollahs made a massive [03:33] effort to annihilate us, to take over [03:36] the Middle East and to threaten the [03:38] entire world. It tried to promote these [03:40] murderous ambitions through the [03:42] development of nuclear programs and [03:44] ballistic missiles, the funding and [03:46] arming of terror proxies around us and [03:48] by weathering the heavy sanctions [03:51] imposed upon it. [03:53] Now, I want to tell you, over the years [03:55] all of this has cost Iran nearly a [03:57] trillion dollars and now it can be said [04:01] that trillion has gone down the drain. [04:04] But the price we exacted from Iran did [04:06] not end with money alone. In the spirit [04:08] of the upcoming Passover holiday, since [04:11] the beginning of the war of redemption, [04:13] that's that's Netanyahu's name for the [04:15] war since October 7th, the whole war, [04:17] war of redemption, we have dealt 10 [04:20] plagues upon the axis of evil. The blow [04:24] to Hamas in Gaza, the blow to Hezbollah [04:27] in Lebanon, the blow to Assad in Syria, [04:30] the blow to terrorist organizations in [04:32] Judea and Samaria, the blow to the [04:35] Houthis in Yemen and five more blows to [04:38] Iran. The blow to their nuclear program, [04:41] the blow to their missiles, the blow to [04:44] the regime's infrastructure, the blow to [04:46] the forces of oppression and the plague [04:49] of the firstborn, right? That's the 10th [04:51] plague in Egypt. The plague of the [04:53] firstborn or in our case, the blow to [04:56] the senior leadership. From the tyrant [04:59] Khamenei to the nuclear scientists and [05:02] onto the master murderers of the [05:04] Revolutionary Guard and the Basij, not [05:07] to mention Nasrallah, Haniyeh, Deif, [05:10] Sinwar and many, many more. [05:14] After the 10 plagues of Egypt, I remind [05:17] you that Pharaoh still tried to harm the [05:19] people of Israel and we all know how [05:22] that ended. So, it is in the campaign [05:24] again So, it is in the campaign against [05:26] the Iranian axis of evil. The campaign [05:29] is not yet over, but even now it can be [05:31] said that against the 10 plagues [05:34] suffered by our enemies, [05:36] we have achieved 10 great [05:38] accomplishments in operations Rising [05:41] Lion and Roaring Lion and in the war of [05:44] redemption as a whole. Rising Lion is [05:47] the war, the 12-day war in June. Roaring [05:49] Lion is this war and war of redemption, [05:52] as I said, is the whole war since [05:53] October 7th. Now, he goes through the 10 [05:56] accomplishments. [05:58] One, we created a strategic reversal. [06:01] Before these two operations, Iran sought [06:04] to suffocate us. Today we are [06:05] suffocating them. The Ayatollah regime [06:08] in Iran is weaker than ever and the [06:10] state of Israel is stronger than ever. [06:13] Two, we awakened the world to the danger [06:15] Iran poses to all of humanity. Before [06:18] the operations, most of the world did [06:20] not heed our warnings. I want to tell [06:22] you, I spoke with leaders in the Middle [06:24] East in secret and in public meetings. I [06:27] spoke with leaders in Europe. I also [06:29] spoke with leaders in the US, with US [06:31] presidents. They did not internalize the [06:34] danger. Today there is no one who does [06:36] not understand the magnitude of the [06:39] threat. There are those who tell me in [06:41] private conversations, "Prime Minister, [06:43] we understand. We are afraid to say it, [06:46] but we understand." [06:47] And there are those who say, "We [06:49] understand." And thank God, they are [06:51] also acting. [06:53] Three, before the operations, we fought [06:56] Iran alone. Today we fight shoulder to [06:58] shoulder with the United States in an [07:01] unprecedented, historic cooperation [07:04] between President Trump and myself and [07:06] between the US military and the Israel [07:08] Defense Forces. Not only have we [07:09] strengthened the alliance with the US, [07:12] but we are also creating new alliances [07:14] with important countries in the region [07:17] against the shared Iranian threat. I [07:19] hope that soon, citizens of Israel, we [07:21] will be able to tell you more about [07:24] these vital alliances. [07:26] Four, we undermined the foundations of [07:29] the terrorist regime, which before the [07:31] operations appeared all-powerful. Today, [07:34] following Rising Lion and the protests [07:37] in Iran that followed and following the [07:40] crushing blows we have dealt Iran in [07:42] Roaring Lion, we have shaken this regime [07:45] and I tell you, sooner or later, it is [07:48] destined to fall. [07:50] Five, we dealt a severe blow to and [07:53] removed from over our heads two [07:55] existential threats. Before the two [07:58] operations, Iran was racing forward to [08:01] develop nuclear weapons and tens of [08:03] thousands of ballistic missiles. In [08:05] Rising Lion, we pushed away the [08:08] immediate threat of Iran arming itself [08:10] with nuclear weapons and numerous [08:12] ballistic missiles and in Roaring Lion, [08:14] we achieved a complementary success by [08:17] crushing the regime's industrial [08:18] capacity to produce these instruments of [08:22] destruction. I want you to understand, [08:25] Khamenei intended to take the industrial [08:27] capacity for nuclear and missile [08:30] production and hide it deep, deep [08:32] underground. When I realized this, I [08:34] brought it before the cabinet and said, [08:36] "We must act because otherwise, we will [08:39] not be able to reach these instruments [08:41] of destruction and the means that [08:43] produce them. We had to act and we [08:45] acted." Six, we broke the power of [08:48] Iran's terrorist armies that surrounded [08:51] us in a noose. It is true, they still [08:54] have residual capability to threaten us, [08:57] but they can no longer threaten our [08:58] existence or launch the tens of [09:01] thousands of ballistic missiles and [09:03] rockets that were intended to destroy [09:05] Israel's cities. I remember before we [09:07] set out on the war of redemption, they [09:09] spoke of 150,000 rockets and missiles [09:12] and thousands of Hamas missiles. All of [09:14] these were supposed to turn Israel's [09:16] cities, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, [09:18] Beersheba, into heaps of ruins. That [09:21] will no longer happen. Seven, we [09:24] established security zones deep beyond [09:27] our borders in Gaza, in more than half [09:30] the strip's territory, in Syria from the [09:32] Hermon Ridge to the Yarmouk and in [09:34] Lebanon in an extensive buffer zone that [09:37] thwarts the threat of invasion and [09:40] pushes back the threat of anti-tank [09:42] missile fire on our communities. Eight, [09:46] we changed our security concept. We are [09:49] the ones who attack and initiate and we [09:51] are the ones who surprise our enemies. [09:54] Nine, we proved that our air defense [09:57] system is the best in the world. I want [09:58] to tell you so many countries turn to us [10:01] and ask for our help because they know [10:03] we are number one in defense and also [10:06] number one in offense. [10:09] 10. We showed the wonderful resilience [10:12] of the people of Israel and the Israeli [10:14] economy, which even in time of war is [10:17] breaking records. Citizens of Israel, [10:21] we achieved these brilliant [10:22] accomplishments thanks to you, thanks to [10:25] our faith and our strength, which are [10:27] the guarantee of our existence. Enemies [10:29] come and go, but our ability and [10:32] determination to stand against them and [10:34] when necessary to strike them [10:35] thoroughly, these are the things that [10:38] ensure our future. Together we have [10:40] turned Israel into a regional power and [10:42] in certain fields even a global power. [10:45] We've achieved this thanks to our brave [10:47] commanders and fighters in the regular [10:49] and reserve forces. Thanks to the fallen [10:51] heroes of Israel. Thanks to our [10:54] steadfast Thanks to your steadfastness, [10:57] citizens of Israel, and thanks to the [10:59] courageous decisions we made in the [11:01] government of Israel. [11:05] While there were those who showed [11:06] weakness and surrender, we continued [11:09] with full force and struck our enemies [11:12] with determination and without fear. [11:14] While there were those who mocked the [11:16] relationships we built including with [11:17] the US, we stuck to the mission and [11:20] changed the face of the Middle East. We [11:22] created conditions, we're expanding [11:24] alliances, and the circle of peace [11:27] around us. [11:28] Many times during the last 2 and 1/2 [11:30] years I stood before [11:32] fateful decisions. Rafa, Philadelphi, [11:36] the pagers, Nasrallah, the entry into [11:38] Gaza City, the insistence on returning [11:41] all our hostages down to the last one, [11:44] and not doing more partial deals, the [11:46] entry into Syria to save our Druze [11:49] brothers, and of course the bold [11:51] decisions on Rising Lion and Roaring [11:53] Lion. [11:55] In all these decisions I listened to [11:57] you, citizens of Israel. [12:01] I listened to you, the fighters. [12:04] I met you in the field. You told me, "We [12:07] understand well what is at stake. We're [12:09] strong, Mr. Prime Minister. Do not [12:11] surrender to the voices of weakness and [12:13] gloom. Continue to fight. Continue to [12:16] lead us from victory to victory." And [12:17] that is exactly what we're doing. [12:19] Connect to the spirit of the people, to [12:21] the spirit of heroism, to the spirit of [12:23] victory of our mighty fighters. [12:26] From the infantry soldier charging [12:28] forward in Gaza and Lebanon to the pilot [12:30] crossing the skies of Tehran, the [12:32] Israeli fighter is bold as a leopard, [12:35] light as an eagle, [12:37] and brave as a lion. We will continue to [12:40] crush the terrorist regime. We will [12:42] fortify the security zones around us, [12:45] and we will achieve our goals. In the [12:47] Passover Haggadah it is said, [12:50] "And it is [clears throat] this that has [12:51] stood for our forefathers and for us, [12:54] for not only one has risen against us to [12:57] destroy us, [12:58] but the holy one, blessed be he, saves [13:00] us from their hand." The heritage of [13:03] Israel and our right to our land is what [13:05] stood for our ancestors, and it is what [13:07] stands for us. [13:09] The nation stands firm, and we must all [13:11] continue to stand firm. [13:14] And thus, with God's help, we will [13:16] ensure the eternity of Israel. A happy [13:19] festival of freedom [13:21] to the entire house of Israel. [13:24] All right. Before we go on, I just want [13:26] to draw your attention once again to the [13:28] Israel 365 News YouTube channel. If [13:30] you're not subscribed, please go [13:31] subscribe there to get all the rest of [13:33] my of my content. A lot of very [13:35] important content up there, and I'll [13:36] specifically point you to the playlist [13:39] section where there is a six-part [13:40] playlist, Israel, The Rise of a Regional [13:42] Superpower, a six-part short video [13:44] series. It really gives you an overview [13:47] of [13:48] uh of everything that has happened in [13:50] the Middle East and how Israel's role in [13:52] the Middle East has changed so [13:54] dramatically [13:56] uh since October 7th. All right, let's [13:58] get into the speech. Now that you've [13:59] heard the full thing, let me tell you [14:01] why I did this, why I think it was such [14:02] an extraordinary moment. I And for those [14:04] of you still watching, thank you for [14:05] still sticking around. [14:07] What Prime Minister Netanyahu did here [14:09] was very subtle but very powerful. [14:11] He defined victory in this speech, [14:15] even even though the war is still going [14:17] on. It doesn't mean the war is over, but [14:18] he defined victory. For the last year [14:20] and a half or well 2 and 1/2 years, [14:22] can't believe it's been so long since [14:24] October 7th, 2023, [14:28] there's been so many questions revolving [14:30] around one larger question. [14:32] What is winning? What does winning [14:34] really look like, right? Is Is it Like [14:36] what's the goal? Is it the destruction [14:37] of Hamas? Is it the fall of the Iranian [14:39] regime? Is it total quiet across every [14:43] front, no more enemies at all? Like [14:45] what's the end? [14:47] How do you How do you define victory? [14:48] And what Prime Minister Netanyahu did in [14:50] this speech is he answered that question [14:53] very clearly. [14:55] Let me explain. First of all, victory is [14:58] not regime change. We don't need regime [15:00] change for victory [15:02] in Iran. [15:04] You need victory Victory is the removal [15:06] of the threat. I mean, he's in a way in [15:09] this speech he's reminding the Israeli [15:10] people of what our national priorities [15:13] are. We need to remove threats to us. [15:16] And listen to how he builds it. He walks [15:18] you through this 10 plagues framework, [15:23] right? He's using it kind of like [15:24] symbolism, but he's also mapping out [15:26] what happened in the Assad in Syria, the [15:28] Houthis in Yemen. Now, he throws in the [15:30] terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria, [15:32] which raises the question that these [15:34] that they're really not dealt with. [15:36] They're still [15:37] they're still a problem that is uh you [15:40] know, it almost reminds the listener [15:42] that there's some very serious [15:43] unfinished business. If there's any real [15:45] existential threat to Israel right now, [15:47] it's probably that. But then he moved [15:49] [snorts] directly to the Iran issue, not [15:51] just talking about the proxies, but also [15:53] the nuclear program, the missile [15:54] program, the industrial base, and the [15:56] leadership. Those are the 10 plagues. [15:59] And that that line, the plague of the [16:01] firstborn, you know, referring to [16:04] knocking out the senior leadership, [16:07] um is really a reminder of how [16:09] thoroughly Israel wiped out all the [16:12] governing echelons of the Israeli of of [16:15] sorry, of the Iranian system. [16:17] But then he pivots right after laying [16:19] out this overwhelming picture of what [16:21] has been achieved, he also reminds us [16:23] that the campaign is not yet over. [16:26] But then he talks about these 10 great [16:28] accomplishments, and that's the key to [16:30] understanding what he's doing in this [16:31] speech, what he's doing politically. [16:33] Because he he's telling the public that [16:36] even if this ends without a dramatic [16:38] final scene, even if Tehran even if the [16:41] regime in Tehran doesn't fall as part of [16:44] this campaign, [16:46] the outcome has already been decided. [16:47] Look at the way he phrased it there in [16:50] section four of this uh [16:53] of the of the speech, right? In what [16:55] what Well, I'm sorry, not of the speech, [16:57] where he listed the 10 things and the [16:58] fourth one, [17:00] let's go to it here. [17:02] Four. We undermined the foundations of [17:04] the terrorist regime. [17:05] Notice he didn't say we toppled the [17:07] regime, [17:08] which before the operations appeared all [17:09] powerful. Today, following Rising Lion [17:11] and the protests in Iran that followed, [17:14] and following the crushing blows we have [17:15] dealt Iran in Roaring Lion, we have [17:17] shaken this regime, and I tell you [17:19] sooner or later it is destined to fall. [17:22] Notice he doesn't say we will bring it [17:23] down or it is a goal of ours to topple [17:26] it. He's He's framing the fall of the [17:28] regime, again, not as a specific goal, [17:33] but as an inevitability based on what [17:35] we've done. [17:36] Okay, that's why, [17:38] you know, again, sooner or later it is [17:40] destined to fall. Right? It's not the [17:42] objective, it's the consequence of what [17:44] we've set in motion. He's separating [17:46] those two things. He's managing [17:47] expectations because you could talk to [17:50] five different Israelis and ask them [17:51] what they consider an acceptable end of [17:54] the war, you're always going to have [17:55] people who say, "We didn't do enough. [17:57] There's still some threats. There's [17:58] still more enemies. We don't know at [18:00] what point Trump is going to take an [18:02] off-ramp and maybe leave some portion of [18:05] the regime intact." And you're going to [18:07] have people on the Israeli side saying, [18:08] "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, we're not [18:10] finished yet." [18:11] But what Netanyahu is saying in this [18:13] speech, and this is why I wanted to make [18:14] this video, really [18:16] this is the key point. [18:18] Israel doesn't need to topple the regime [18:20] for this war to be a victory. [18:24] Israel need Israel needs to look out for [18:25] Israel. Israel needs to make sure [18:28] that Iran can no longer threaten its [18:30] existence. [18:31] And that's what the Prime Minister is [18:32] saying here. He's saying that has [18:34] already been achieved. We can keep [18:35] going. We can keep degrading the threat [18:37] even more or whatever's left of it, [18:39] whatever dangers are there, whatever [18:40] enemies are there. [18:42] You know, the way to really secure it [18:44] fully long-term is to bring down the [18:45] regime for sure, [18:47] but what he's saying here is that we've [18:49] already won. [18:50] Now, let's take a step back from the [18:52] strategy and look at what else is [18:53] happening in this speech because it [18:55] wasn't just a military update. It was a [18:57] transform He He was laying out this [18:59] transformation in Israel's posture, and [19:01] that's what my series on Israel as a [19:03] regional superpower is about. You should [19:05] go watch it. [19:06] Um You see, for decades Israel's whole [19:09] And And he even said that. He said one [19:10] of the accomplishments he said there was [19:11] that we changed Israel changed its [19:14] security doctrine. [19:17] Right? That's what he He said it changed [19:18] We changed the security doctrine. [19:21] And [snorts] [19:22] And what he And I've talked about this [19:24] before. If you follow my videos, you've [19:26] you've heard me mention this, that [19:27] Israel [19:28] He said that Israel used to be reactive. [19:30] Israel would absorb attacks and rely on, [19:34] you know, is our enemy deterred? [19:36] Is our enemy contained? Are they Are [19:38] they incentivized not to attack? That's [19:41] no longer the security doctrine anymore. [19:43] We don't think about whether they're [19:44] deterred or contained. We think about [19:46] whether they have capabilities. If they [19:48] have capabilities, we go after them. [19:50] That's what he meant by taking the [19:51] initiative. Israel's doctrine, its [19:53] security doctrine has changed. [19:56] And here, [19:57] you know, he he also talks about how [19:59] Israel initiates instead of just [20:01] responding. It's a completely different [20:03] security doctrine. And this is a major [20:05] impact of this war, and I'm happy he [20:07] laid it out so clean and so cleanly and [20:09] clearly. I've been talking about this [20:11] for a number of for like a year at least [20:13] that is that that's that's the big shift [20:15] that's taken place. And hopefully it'll [20:17] stay it it'll be a permanent change in [20:20] Israel's security doctrine. But then he [20:22] goes further. [20:23] He says that in certain fields Israel's [20:25] become a global power. He talks about [20:28] the air defenses. You know, in the last [20:30] 6 months alone I've talked about it in [20:31] some of my videos, the the the Germans [20:34] have have purchased something like $8 [20:36] billion in Israeli air defenses, the [20:38] Greeks have purchased about 4 and 1/2 [20:40] billion dollars. Other countries are [20:43] countries are lining up to purchase [20:45] Israel's air defense technology. [20:47] So, we've seen that. Um and that gives [20:50] Israel more reach and more coordination. [20:52] Um you know, it it gives Israel newer [20:55] new alliances. And in Oh, right, he also [20:57] talked about how there are new alliances [21:00] that I can't yet talk about. Right? He [21:02] hints that there's more to come, [21:04] >> [clears throat] [21:04] >> which means that there are [21:05] relationships. He says there are [21:06] strategic relationships developing that [21:08] he can't talk about yet, which means [21:10] there's going to be some announcements [21:11] when the dust settles on this Iran war, [21:13] there's going to be new alignments. [21:15] If you connect all of this, [21:18] right, to the broader shifts we've been [21:20] watching, all the the alignment of many [21:23] Arab states with Israel and the US, the [21:25] changing balance in the Eastern [21:27] Mediterranean with the Greece, Cyprus, [21:30] Israel relationship, the the [21:32] relationship with India, the [21:34] relationship with African states, [21:37] right, the go the growing recognition of [21:39] Israel as a security anchor, the fact [21:41] that Israel is selling natural gas to [21:44] Jordan and Egypt, and they're a vital [21:46] provider of resources for other regional [21:48] countries. [21:49] This is [21:50] Israel's position has changed, and he [21:53] lays it out in this speech. Again, I've [21:55] been laying this out about Israel's [21:57] changing position, and that's why I keep [21:59] you know, pumping that that video series [22:01] about Israel's a superpower, because [22:04] this war really reorganized the region. [22:07] And we've been fighting the war and [22:08] worrying about the next headline and the [22:10] next crisis and and and and the next, [22:12] you know, diplomatic issue having to do [22:14] with the war, the next strategic issue [22:15] having to do with the war. [22:17] But we need to take stock, and that's [22:20] what he does in this speech of [22:22] where we are right now. Like, whoa, look [22:25] at the world and look how to how [22:27] Israel's position has changed. And [22:29] that's and and and that's why it was [22:32] such a it was such an important speech. [22:33] It was really sort of pulling everything [22:35] together, and that's why I said at the [22:37] beginning it was kind of a victory [22:38] speech. Even if the war goes on longer, [22:41] he's laying down the fact that this war [22:44] has changed things no matter what [22:47] happens next, even if it stops tomorrow. [22:51] And the most powerful part of the speech [22:52] wasn't even the strategy, it was the [22:53] Jewish identity part. And that speaks [22:56] directly to what's happened also since [22:57] October 7th. October 7th was far more [23:00] than a a a terrible terrorist attack and [23:03] a military event. It was a real shock to [23:05] the Israeli psyche, to the Jewish psyche [23:07] worldwide. It raised important questions [23:10] about vulnerability and security and the [23:13] whole question of whether the Jewish [23:14] state can defend the Jewish people and [23:16] guarantee our survival. There was a lot [23:18] of doubt sowed that day. [23:20] And what this speech does is it answers [23:22] that question. He talks about the fallen [23:24] soldiers. He talks about the wounded. He [23:26] talks about the unity of the people, [23:28] people bound by common destiny. And this [23:30] is huge because one of the things that's [23:32] happened over the course of this war is [23:35] the the the societal cohesion [23:39] in Israel because you know, when you go [23:41] through a war together and everyone has [23:42] kids fighting and and and every [23:45] community is affected and [23:47] and people are are are dying for each [23:49] other and [23:50] and going through the same struggles [23:51] together, there's a there's a cohesion [23:53] that grows. It actually builds that [23:55] strength. You don't wish it on yourself, [23:58] but something has happened here. And in [23:59] this speech he speaks openly about it. [24:02] Something has shifted in Israeli [24:03] society. It's been stripped down to [24:05] fundamentals. Who are we? What are we [24:07] fighting for? What binds us together? [24:10] You know, and that's why the Passover [24:12] framing and referring back to the Exodus [24:14] is so important here. Jews think about [24:16] these things. [24:17] Right? We're we're a people that has [24:19] been perpetually [24:21] But now there's a difference. [24:24] We're not just passively being acted [24:27] upon and and and and being attacked, we [24:30] are actors. That's the transformation, [24:33] and that's what this speech captures. [24:35] It's that the Jewish people is no longer [24:37] at the mercy of history. The the Jewish [24:40] people, the state of Israel is shaping [24:42] history. So, yes, this was very much a [24:44] victory speech. [24:46] Not because the war is over. When I say [24:48] it's a victory speech, it doesn't mean [24:49] the war is over, because the strategic [24:51] outcome, the strategic outcome of the [24:53] war is already a victory. And the and [24:56] those accomplishments [24:59] that this war has accomplished, [25:00] regardless of what happens next, [25:01] regardless of how complete [25:04] the picture is according to every single [25:06] person's version of complete, his point [25:08] is that the strategic outcomes, that the [25:11] accomplishments that are laid out here [25:13] are secured, [25:15] again, in his view. And the rest is [25:17] basically end game. [25:20] So, [25:23] just to sum it up, when the war comes to [25:25] a close, [25:27] even if there is no dramatic collapse of [25:29] the Iranian regime in real time as part [25:32] of this war, [25:34] the what he's saying here is that [25:37] we've already set it in motion that this [25:39] regime will fall, [25:41] and that from the perspective of danger [25:43] to Israel, we have won. Because in the [25:46] end, that's what the war is about. [25:48] Victory is about vanquishing your enemy [25:51] and making sure that you no longer have [25:52] those existential threats, but it's [25:54] about so much more, the new alliances, [25:56] the new strength Israel has, [25:58] and how weak how weak our enemies are. [26:01] If you think back to what it was before [26:03] October 7th, that's what he's doing in [26:04] this speech. So, it really very much was [26:07] a victory speech. It was also, [26:09] I guess it could also be seen as the [26:11] beginning of a [26:13] of the campaign for the next election. [26:14] There will be elections this fall, and [26:16] this might have been the opening salvo [26:18] of the election campaign. [26:20] Uh but in the end, again, I think a very [26:21] powerful, very important, and and even, [26:24] dare I say, historic speech from Prime [26:27] Minister Netanyahu. [26:29] Right, thanks for watching. I'll be back [26:30] with more tomorrow.
