Declaring Israel is in a “fight for our existence,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday addressed the nation and vowed to lead Israel to a “crushing victory” over Hamas and to “realize the prophecy of Isaiah.”
“As prime minister, I'm responsible for guaranteeing the future of this country,” Netanyahu said, promising to “eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governance capabilities and to do everything possible to get our hostages back.” The Times of Israel and i24News translated the speech.
More than 1,000 Israelis died, and more than 100 were taken hostage during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
“My role is to lead all Israelis, the state of Israel, and the people of Israel to an overpowering victory,” he said. “It is now a time to come together for one purpose, to storm ahead, to achieve victory.”
Netanyahu also quoted Scripture.
“We shall realize the prophecy of Isaiah -- ‘there will no longer be stealing at your borders, and your gates will be of glory.’ Together we will fight. Together we will win,” he said.
Netanyahu was paraphrasing Isaiah 60:18, which says in the English Standard Version, “Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”
“Israel is in the midst of a fight for our existence,” Netanyahu said. “... All Hamas members are dead men walking – above and below ground, inside and outside Gaza.”
Oct. 7, he said, was a “black day in our history.”
“We will get to the bottom of what happened on the southern border and the Gaza-envelope area. The debacle will be checked to the full,” he said. “Everyone will have to give answers on the debacle – including myself – but all that will happen only after the war.”
“... I am responsible for securing the future of the state. And right now, my job is to lead the state of Israel and the people to a crushing victory over our enemies.”
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Sean Gallup / Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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