prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Start of the Government Meeting: “We identify with the struggle of the Iranian people and their aspirations for freedom, liberty, and justice. It is very possible that we are standing at the moment when the Iranian people are taking their fate into their own hands.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of the Government meeting, today (Sunday, 4 January 2026) [translated from Hebrew]:
“I have just returned from a historic visit, a very important summit meeting, with President Trump. This meeting, of course, took place on the eve of the New Year. It was very moving for my wife and I to stand alongside the President and his wife and celebrate the arrival of the New Year, which we hope will be even better than the past year.
President Trump asked me: ‘Tell me, do you like fireworks?’ I said to him: ‘Look, it’s better than other things that explode in the sky, but we have also learned to handle those well.’ He understood that, of course. There was a great sense of understanding and identification throughout the visit. I believe this contributed to strengthening the dual connection both between Israel and the United States, and of course, the personal connection between us.
We discussed all of the developments in the region. I will focus my remarks first on Gaza. He was unequivocal. He repeated this both in our private conversations and to public opinion at the press conference there. He said it: ‘The essential condition is that Hamas disarms.’ There is no other option. This is an essential and fundamental condition for the implementation of his 20-point plan. He made no concessions and showed no flexibility on this issue.
We also discussed Iran, of course. We reiterated our joint position of zero enrichment on one hand, and the need to remove the 400 kilograms of enriched material from Iran and oversee the sites with tight and genuine supervision. These discussions took place at the beginning of the developing, dramatic events in Iran. You heard the President refer to this shortly thereafter. We, of course, identify with this. The Government of Israel, the State of Israel, and my policy, we identify with the struggle of the Iranian people, with their aspirations for freedom, liberty, and justice. It is very possible that we are standing at the moment when the Iranian people are taking their fate into their own hands.
Regarding Venezuela, I want to express the entire Government’s support for the determined decision and action of the United States to restore freedom and justice to that part of the world as well. I must say that across Latin America right now, we are seeing a transformation; several countries are returning to the American axis and, not surprisingly, to a connection with the State of Israel. We welcome this. We congratulate President Trump on his decision. We also salute the American military forces who carried out a perfect operation. We know how to appreciate such things.
We are also carrying out other operations here in our region, and I am speaking first and foremost about the efforts of the Israel Police to restore governance in the Negev. We are going to do everything to prevent the Negev from becoming the ‘Wild South,’ and finally, there is an initiative here. I congratulate Minister Ben-Gvir for leading this initiative. I intend to visit the Negev with him in the coming days to see our actions up close, and this is not the only initiative.
[There is also] the welcome change that has been made in the Prison Service, after we were told for years that nothing could be done because it would lead to terrible developments. The exact opposite happened. I also welcome the building of the National Guard’s strength and, of course, the strengthening of the Israel Police. All these things are welcome, and I believe the entire Government expresses its support and backing.”
Attached photo credits: Ma’ayan Toaf (GPO)
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