In a powerful speech at Yad Vashem on the annual commemoration of the Holocaust, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel was created to ensure that the Shoah would never happen again, and that Israel would stand alone in its self-defense if necessary.
Eight decades after the end of the Holocaust, Israel again faces a “ruthless and brutal” enemy seeking its destruction, PM Netanyahu declared at the state Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Yad Vashem Sunday evening.
Hamas’ attack against Israel on October 7, he clarified, was “not a Holocaust — not because of an absence of intention to annihilate us, but because of an absence of ability,” he stated.
“The murderers of Hamas are guided by the exact same goal,” but today Israel “has a force that can defend it,” he said, promising to “complete the elimination of [Hamas’s] capabilities” and free the hostages.
To this end, Israel will continue fighting no matter how much pressure is brought to bear to stop the war, he continued.
Responding to reports that the International Criminal Court in The might issue arrest warrants for Israel’s top officials and commanders, Netanyahu said that such actions “undermine” the “most basic right” of Israelis to defend themselves. He said it would be “a grave stain on the mere concept of international justice.”
“From here in Jerusalem, I am sending a very clear-cut message: You will not chain our hands, and even if Israel has to stand alone, it will stand alone and will continue to fight our enemies until victory,” Netanyahu declared.
Switching to English in a message to the international community, the prime minister said that, during the Shoah, the Jewish people were “totally defenseless against those who sought our destruction.”
“No nation came to our aid. Today, we again face enemies bent on our destruction,” he said. “I say to the leaders of the world: No amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum, will stop Israel from defending itself. As the prime minister of Israel, the one and only Jewish state, I pledge here today from Jerusalem on this Holocaust Remembrance Day, if Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.”
Netanyahu continued: “We will defeat our genocidal enemies. Never again is now,” he declared, adding in Hebrew that “during the Holocaust, we were muted and defenseless. We will not go back to those dark times.”
May Hashem bless Netanyahu and give him the strength to continue his very important work. If I was a citizen of Israel, I would vote for him.