Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently said that the Knesset is returning to its winter session at a time when very dramatic events are taking place in the Middle East.

Old regimes have toppled, others are swaying and new ones are rising. No-one can guarantee how good or how stable these new regimes will be, nor their attitude towards Israel. Unfortunately, this attitude, which left much to be desired to begin with, is not expected to get any better in the foreseeable future. These new regimes depend on the raging masses, many of whom have been systematically poisoned with anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist propaganda. This incitement began even before the State of Israel was established, and continues at full steam today.

If the results of the elections in Tunisia are anything to go by, we will probably see the rise of other governments with a dominant Islamist component. In most countries in the region, the Islamist movements are the strongest, most organized power, while the liberal forces, striving for freedom and progress, as we define the terms, are divided and weak.

If the positions of the religious extreme do not become more moderate, I doubt that any of the high hopes that blossomed in the Arab spring, will come true. It is possible that these hopes will only be fulfilled a generation from now, after this wave subsides, when progress will be given a chance to lead the Arab world down a new path.

Netanyahu went on to say that if he had to summarize what will happen in the Middle East, he would use two terms: instability and uncertainty. The collapse of Gaddafi’s regime in Libya, the bloody incidents in Syria, the American forces leaving Iraq, the new government in Tunisia, the upcoming elections in Egypt and many other events are all expressions of the immense changes occurring around Israrel. These changes can increase the instability within these countries, and the instability between countries.

Regional powers who have control in the Middle East will try to ensure they have greater influence on the new regimes—influence that will not always support Israel or be beneficial to Israel. One of these regional forces is Iran, which continues its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. A nuclear Iran would pose a terrible threat to the Middle East and to the entire world. And of course, it poses a great, direct threat to Israel.

To cope with the instability and the uncertainty, Israel needs two things: strength and responsibility. Strength in all areas: security, economy, society, everywhere; and responsibility in navigating the stormy sea in which we they are sailing. Israel must respond to the new challenges and threats they are facing with strength and security.

He said that a security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone. It must also include offensive capabilities, which are the very foundation of deterrence.

Israel’s policy is guided by two main principles: the first is “if someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first,” and the second is “if anyone harms us, his blood is on his own hands.” For 2,000 years, Israelis could not realize these basic principles of self-defense. This changed when the State of Israel was established, and the IDF was founded. The governments of Israel acted on these principles: they fought those who threatened them and attacked those who harmed them.

“Since I assumed the office of Prime Minister, I have instructed the IDF and security forces to act systematically and decisively against the terrorist leaders and those who carry out the attacks. We will continue to act strongly to defend ourselves, and we will continue to conduct ourselves responsibly in the complex reality of our region. We live in a complex reality. We witnessed this complexity two months ago, when an enflamed mob attacked the Israeli embassy in Cairo. The mob didn’t care whether we have a treaty or not. Its intentions were clear and its message was obvious. Those were intense and complex moments. I thank Defense Minister Barak and Foreign
Minister Lieberman. We worked together with the US Administration and the Egyptian Government and we brought the incident to its conclusion, bringing those who were trapped in the embassy, and their families, home,” said Netanyahu.

Fostering the strength and responsibility required to fortify Israel’s security is paramount in Israel’s quest for peace. In the Middle East, peace is made with the strong, not with the weak. The stronger Israel is, the closer peace will be.

The people in Israel are united in their desire for peace. They seek real peace; peace that is anchored in the right of the Jewish people for a nation-state in its homeland; peace that is based on security. They are willing to compromise, but not to discard their security.

“Today more than ever, I assure you that in the negotiations for peace, we will continue to insist on our national interests, first and foremost, security. I am not tough when it comes to peace. I am tough about the security of Israel and its citizens, and I will continue to be so—that is my utmost duty, my very basic responsibility as the Prime Minister of the State of Israel,” he added.

“I am willing to make peace with our neighbors, but I am not willing to risk our security and future. Any peace deal must be accompanied by firm security agreements on the ground; otherwise it just will not last.”

“For the negotiations to end, they first need to be started. I have called upon the Palestinian leadership time and time again to enter direct negotiations without delay. The Palestinians continue to refuse to engage in direct negotiations. Instead of sitting at the negotiation table, they decided to join Hamas and take unilateral steps at the United Nations. We will not idly sit by while these steps harm Israel.”

Unfortunately, while Israel supports the foundation of a Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement, the Palestinians are trying to reach that state without a peace agreement. That is the reality and anyone with eyes to see and a sense of decency knows it. And Netanyahu  will not agree to that. The United States opposes the Palestinian unilateral steps at the United Nations, and Netanyahu is grateful for that. He said that the alliance between Israel and the US is deeply rooted and solid. The alliance is based on the strong support of the American people for Israel, on shared values and common goals.

The US attaches great importance to the peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and Jordan. These treaties are an anchor of stability in the region.

“Strength, responsibility and unity are what guide us. We have one country, together we can protect it,” concluded Prime Minister Netanyahu.