Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to Mark Levin (video snippet)

Netanyahu Vows to Crush Iran’s Influence, Forge New Middle East

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The Judean Staff
National

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed an ambitious vision for a transformed Middle East—one free from Iranian nuclear threats and brimming with new alliances. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Fox News on Saturday night, Netanyahu emphasized the ongoing cooperation between Israel and the United States to achieve regional stability through bold, decisive action.

A Middle East Free of Nuclear Iran

With the winds of change blowing through the region, Netanyahu declared that the days of unchecked Iranian influence are numbered. “When we complete the changeover of the Middle East, when we cut Iranian access down even further, when we ensure that Iran never obtains nuclear weapons, and when we destroy Hamas, this will pave the way for an additional agreement with Saudi Arabia and other nations,” he asserted.

His remarks come at a critical juncture, as Israeli military forces continue a relentless crackdown on Iranian-backed terror groups, particularly in Judea and Samaria. Tehran’s proxies, emboldened by years of unchecked aggression, are now facing an unyielding Israeli response that aims to dismantle their infrastructure once and for all.

The Trump Effect: Maximum Pressure Returns

The resurgence of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran has reignited optimism in Jerusalem. On February 4, Trump reinstated his hardline approach to Iran, intensifying economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Netanyahu, who has long warned of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, sees this as a crucial moment in the fight against Iranian hegemony.

Yet, in a strategic balancing act, Trump has also signaled his preference for diplomatic solutions over military strikes. In an interview with The New York Post on Saturday, he stated, “I would like a deal done with Iran on non-nuclear. I would prefer that to bombing the hell out of it… They don’t want to die. Nobody wants to die.”

While diplomacy remains an option, Israel is leaving nothing to chance. Netanyahu and his security cabinet continue to explore all avenues—diplomatic, economic, and military—to neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions once and for all.

A Gathering Storm: Iran’s Expanding Proxy Network

Beyond the nuclear issue, Israel remains locked in a battle against Iran’s growing regional influence. Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, have long waged a shadow war against Israel and its allies. While a fragile ceasefire holds in Lebanon and Gaza, Judea and specifically, Northern Samaria have become the newest flashpoint in Iran’s destabilization strategy.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday an expansion of Operation Iron Wall, a decisive military campaign targeting terror cells in the Palestinian areas of Judea and Samaria. A key focal point of this operation is the Nur a-Shams refugee camp, where Iranian-backed militants have entrenched themselves.

“We are crushing the terrorist infrastructure in these camps and ensuring it does not return. We will not allow the Iranian axis of evil to establish an eastern terrorist front that threatens the settlements of Samaria, the seam line, and major Israeli population centers,” Katz declared.

His remarks underscore a growing consensus within Israeli intelligence circles: Tehran is shifting its focus to areas in Northern Samaria like Jenin, Nablus (Shechem), Tulkarem and the dozens of villages in between, exploiting the Palestinian Authority’s waning legitimacy to incite violence and arm militants.

A Fragile Palestinian Authority and Iran’s Strategic Manipulations

The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by the increasingly unpopular President Mahmoud Abbas, is struggling to maintain control in many areas of Judea and Samaria. Tehran has seized upon this leadership vacuum, flooding the region with weapons, funds, and ideological indoctrination.

Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, shed light on Iran’s calculated maneuvers. “We are witnessing increased efforts to promote Palestinian terrorism in Israel through the smuggling of advanced weaponry, financial backing, and strategic guidance—both from the Iranian axis and radical Sunni Islamic factions that are strengthening their grip on the region following the Syrian conflict.”

He added, “Iran exploits the weakness of the PA and Abbas’s declining popularity to maintain and sustain this volatile situation.”

The Road Ahead: Israel’s Unwavering Resolve

As the battle for regional dominance intensifies, Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to security and stability. Netanyahu’s vision of a New Middle East—one where Iran is defanged and Israel thrives in peaceful alliances with Arab nations—may be closer than ever.

With the United States ramping up pressure on Tehran, and Israel systematically dismantling Iran’s proxy network, the coming months could prove decisive. One thing remains clear: Israel will not rest until the Iranian threat is eradicated, and a future of peace and prosperity is secured for generations to come.

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