Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has characterized Iran’s recent missile assault on Israel as a “terrible mistake” and emphasized that Israel has an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the dynamics of the Middle East. In a post shared on X after Iran launched 108 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory, Bennett urged immediate action to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities and energy infrastructure.
Bennett, who served as Prime Minister from June 2021 to June 2022, remarked, “Israel has now its greatest opportunity in 50 years to change the face of the Middle East.” He accused Iran’s leadership of making a significant blunder and called for swift military action to neutralize Iran’s nuclear program and energy facilities, asserting that it is crucial to “fatally cripple this terrorist regime.”
The former Prime Minister, also a former commando in Israel’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit, described Iran as the “head of the octopus of terror.” He emphasized the need to strike at Iran’s core, highlighting that its affiliates—such as Hamas and Hezbollah—have already been rendered temporarily ineffective. “The octopus’s tentacles are temporarily paralyzed—now comes the head. We must eliminate this grave threat to our children’s future,” Bennett stated. He expressed a desire to empower the Iranian populace to rise against the oppressive regime governing them.
Iran’s missile strike came in the wake of Israeli military operations that resulted in the deaths of key figures, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Although many missiles were intercepted by Israel’s advanced defense systems, several still impacted the region without causing any reported casualties.
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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) defended the missile strikes as an action taken “in accordance with the United Nations Charter,” citing a need to respond to previous assaults on Iranian sovereignty. The IRGC claimed the missiles targeted military and radar installations near Tel Aviv.
Current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has echoed Bennett’s sentiments, labeling Iran’s actions as a “big mistake” and promising repercussions. In his post, Bennett pointed to the suffering inflicted by Iranian forces, stating, “Over this last terrible year, Iranian tentacles murdered our families, raped our daughters, and kidnapped our children.”
Bennett concluded his remarks with a rallying cry for the nation, declaring that “now is the moment.” He emphasized the unity and strength of the Israeli people and stressed that such pivotal moments in history must not be squandered.
