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Published: February 29, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference today, Thursday, that "Israel is trying to approach an understanding to reach an exchange deal, but I cannot give a promise that I cannot fulfill,” stressing that work is underway to release the detainees and achieve the war goals, which include striking Hezbollah in the north, standing against intentions of killing, continuing to eliminate Hamas brigades in Khan Yunis, emphasizing that victory over Hamas requires eliminating all brigades in the central sector and in Rafah.
Netanyahu added, "We are paying a heavy price since October 7, and we are managing two battles: a military battle and a diplomatic battle. The military aims to eliminate Hamas, ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel, and return the detainees, while the diplomacy aims to give the military the required time."
Netanyahu continued, "I am working to secure freedom of action for the army, as I must safeguard our interests."
"For years I have stood against international pressures, against Iranian nuclear ambitions, and attempts to impose a Palestinian state on us, and the pressures are increasing day by day. The most important pressure comes from Washington."
In response to a question about US President Joe Biden describing him as a fool, saying he manages the war taking political considerations into account, Netanyahu said the White House denied this. He added: "Whether there are such defamations or briefings about them, it does not affect me at all."
Netanyahu said, "A poll was published in America showing that 82 percent of the American public supports Israel, and more than 4 out of 5 citizens support us and not Hamas, and this gives us the strength to continue until Hamas's defeat."
In response to a question about National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s efforts to impose restrictions on the prayer of Israeli Arabs in the Al-Aqsa compound in the Temple Mount during Ramadan, Netanyahu said: "There was a preparatory discussion" in which Ben-Gvir expressed his opinion, and that "an additional discussion will take place at the beginning of next week.”
Netanyahu said, “Ultimately, we guarantee freedom of worship, according to security conditions. We have no intention to stop the freedom of worship for Muslims.” He added that if Israel were not sovereign over the Temple Mount, there would be no freedom of worship for the three religions."
He confirmed that he discussed his plans to enhance ultra-Orthodox service with many ultra-Orthodox Knesset members, and there are additional contacts, saying, "There is a change in their mindset and an understanding that we must move to a different stage. What is required is 'a framework to be adhered to... and I am optimistic about reaching an agreement’.”
Regarding the situation in the West Bank, the Prime Minister said, according to The Times of Israel, "Nearly 400 fighters have been eliminated in the West Bank since the beginning of the war."
In response to a question about fears of tightening his position on the terms of the hostage deal for political reasons, Netanyahu denied that. He added: "We are doing our best to release our hostages."
But he added: "We are facing a wall of Hamas’s fictitious and unrealistic demands." Hamas “knows its demands are fictitious and does not even try to approach the area of agreement. This is the real situation."
He added: "We are all optimistic, but I give you the current assessment... We continue to work, we continue to hope, but I cannot promise at this moment" that an agreement will be reached, because such an agreement, if reached, the promise "will have no cover."
Netanyahu expressed his high admiration for Mossad Chief David Barnea for his efforts regarding the hostages and for Israel's security in general.
As for complaints against him, Netanyahu says: "If I say good morning, they will say I insulted the evening."
As he has done before, he cites what he says are "tens of billions" spent on a wide-ranging advertising campaign against him.
He added, “I am happy that we have started to return the southern residents to their homes, with the start of school in Sderot on Sunday,” and hoped that security in the north will be achieved by diplomatic means, but by military force if necessary.
Finally, when asked again about talk of elections, he said: "If we continue the war, it will end. That is my goal. First, we must achieve victory.” But conversely, if Israel holds elections, "everything will become paralyzed.”
He said: "Our enemies are only praying" for Israelis to start fighting among themselves instead of fighting them."
“If anyone has goals or political considerations, it is those who want to drag the state, amidst the war, to the edge of victory, to elections that will deprive us of this victory and lead us to defeat. This is a political consideration I will not accept.”
Netanyahu was not asked about the incident that occurred today in northern Gaza, which resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties who were surrounding a convoy of aid trucks.
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