WEBVTT - INTERVIEW: Netanyahu's Senior Advisor Talks Israel War

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<v Speaker 1>Now President Biden is expected to visit Israel, Jordan and

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<v Speaker 1>others tomorrow as we continue to watch the fighting the

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<v Speaker 1>conflict between Israel and Hamas. US Sexual of State Anthony Blincoln,

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<v Speaker 1>we know has been there and held hours of talks

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<v Speaker 1>with Israel ahead of the visit by President Biden. This

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<v Speaker 1>is a trip that's meant to show us support. It

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<v Speaker 1>comes at an absolutely fraught time, just ahead potentially of

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<v Speaker 1>what we expect to be some kind of ground operation

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<v Speaker 1>by the Israelis in Gaza.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, and so we got a chance to speak to

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<v Speaker 2>somebody who advises the Israeli government and with that in mind,

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<v Speaker 2>important to ask questions about what they're trying to achieve,

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<v Speaker 2>the loss of life on both sides here, what happened

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<v Speaker 2>on October the seventh, and then also what's happened in

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<v Speaker 2>Gaza since then, important to ask about that and indeed

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<v Speaker 2>the possibility of getting humanitarian aid in Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>So we spoke to Mark Regev, the senior advisor to

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<v Speaker 1>the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya, who just at the

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<v Speaker 1>point that we had some reports out that these southern

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<v Speaker 1>part of Gaza was also being hit by missiles by

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<v Speaker 1>fire from Israel. Of course Mark Regev also the former

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<v Speaker 1>Israeli ambassador to the UK. We began by that Associated

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<v Speaker 1>Press report of Israeli's air force striking southern Gaza and

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<v Speaker 1>what Mark Regev thinks about it.

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<v Speaker 3>So of course we target Hamas. We want to destroy

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<v Speaker 3>hamasa's military machine and dismantle its political structure in Gaza.

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<v Speaker 3>That's our goal. And at the same time, in parallel,

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<v Speaker 3>we want to do what can be done to safeguard

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<v Speaker 3>the life of the innocent civilian population of the Gaza strip.

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<v Speaker 3>So it's quite possible we are targeting HAMAS facilities in

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<v Speaker 3>the south, but we're doing so in a way that

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<v Speaker 3>we are making every effort possible not to see any

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<v Speaker 3>collateral damage. In every war, unfortunately, in recent history civilians

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<v Speaker 3>have been caught up and there have been civilian casualties.

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<v Speaker 3>We know that, but as a democratic country that abides

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<v Speaker 3>by the rules of war, we are making a maximum

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<v Speaker 3>effort to target civilian to target the commas, terrorists and

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<v Speaker 3>and and safeguard civilians. And that's why we've asked people

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<v Speaker 3>to vacate the north, where we know there will be

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<v Speaker 3>very complex and vicious fighting.

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<v Speaker 4>We want them out of harm's way.

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<v Speaker 3>We don't want them caught up in the crossfire between

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<v Speaker 3>us and come us.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay and Joe, you've called for them to move to

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<v Speaker 2>the south. That's been controversial in itself, and we've seen

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<v Speaker 2>you and and other.

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<v Speaker 3>Aagets well from that COMMAS is active in the south,

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<v Speaker 3>we will strike comas.

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<v Speaker 2>What I should what I should say is many aid

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<v Speaker 2>groups have suggested that it was going to be very challenging,

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<v Speaker 2>and they've used more extreme words than that to move

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<v Speaker 2>people to the south. But having moved to the south,

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<v Speaker 2>many people in Guars might have thought that they would

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<v Speaker 2>be safe, but you're suggesting that they are not safe

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<v Speaker 2>from from becoming as you describe, collateral damage in the south.

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<v Speaker 3>So i'd stress we've asked them to leave the north

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<v Speaker 3>because that where we know there is vicious there is

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<v Speaker 3>terrible fighting ahead of us. We're going to send in

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<v Speaker 3>ground forces quite possibly, and they will face house to

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<v Speaker 3>house fighting. KAMAS is built in there in the north,

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<v Speaker 3>especially in Gaza City, where they have their military infrastructure

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<v Speaker 3>under civilian neighborhods, their tunnels, their bunkers, their command and control,

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<v Speaker 3>their arms depots, their rocket launchers, that's all there, and

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<v Speaker 3>we have to destroy that, and that's why we've asked

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<v Speaker 3>civilians to vacate in the south.

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<v Speaker 4>If there are specific Cramas.

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<v Speaker 3>Targets that need to be targeted, we will target them.

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<v Speaker 3>Hamas cannot have immunity anywhere, not in Gaza, not outside Gas.

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<v Speaker 3>But we are not targeting civilians in the south, and

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<v Speaker 3>it's most safer for them to be in the south

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<v Speaker 3>than in the north. Can I guarantee to you that

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<v Speaker 3>no civilian will be hurt in southern Gaza. I'd like

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<v Speaker 3>to be able to, but unfortunately the realities of modern

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<v Speaker 3>war make that impossible. But I can guarantee that we

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<v Speaker 3>will make a maximum effort to avoid that happening. At

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<v Speaker 3>the same time, Hamas has a deliberate policy of keeping

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<v Speaker 3>people in arms way when we ask people to evacuate

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<v Speaker 3>future So then.

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<v Speaker 1>Why not why not allow the Raa the Rafa crossing

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<v Speaker 1>to open into Egypt. There seems to be all sides,

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<v Speaker 1>but blaming each other for that board and not being

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<v Speaker 1>allowed to open, is there going to be any change?

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<v Speaker 1>Some some view that there would be a period of

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<v Speaker 1>time when the Rafa crossing would be open, and that's

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<v Speaker 1>happened in several days in a row. Is that going to.

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<v Speaker 4>Happen now, Well, it was supposed to happen yesterday.

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<v Speaker 3>We worked with the relevant international partners to make it

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<v Speaker 3>happen yesterday, and we expected yesterday already there was supposed

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<v Speaker 3>to be an exod of foreign nationals. Unfortunately Hamas prevented

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<v Speaker 3>that from happening. They closed their side of the crossing.

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<v Speaker 3>And this is another example of Hamas doesn't give a

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<v Speaker 3>hoot about innocent civil Your life not is really and

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<v Speaker 3>in this case not Palestinian.

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<v Speaker 2>Will it be attempted again today? Will you be attempting

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<v Speaker 2>to open the Raffa crossing again?

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<v Speaker 3>We are working with foreign governments to facilitate the exit

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<v Speaker 3>of civilians through the Rafa crossing. And your questions it

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<v Speaker 3>should have happened yesterday, must prevented it from happening. They

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<v Speaker 3>are holding Look, they're holding some two hundred Israelis hostage

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<v Speaker 3>inside Gaza. They are using Gaza's Palestinian civilians as a

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<v Speaker 3>human shield for their war machine. And now as of

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<v Speaker 3>yesterday they started using the foreign nationals also as hostages,

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<v Speaker 3>refusing to allow them to leave.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the truth, Ambassador Ambassadora. According to your public comments,

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<v Speaker 1>you've been present in meetings recently between Anthony Blincoln and

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<v Speaker 1>Netanya Who the Israeli Prime minister, what is and his

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<v Speaker 1>war cabinet thinking now about pursuing harmus. Does Israel need

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<v Speaker 1>President Biden's approval support? How would you characterize that?

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<v Speaker 3>First of all, worry thankful and appreciative of American support.

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<v Speaker 3>And American support has been in diplomacy, in their moral clarity,

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<v Speaker 3>in the way they've described Tramas as an Isis organization.

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<v Speaker 3>On the Sunday night, President Biden even made a comparison

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<v Speaker 3>with the Nazis, and he's correct because the attack by Tramash,

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<v Speaker 3>the massacre of October seventh, was the greatest single act

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<v Speaker 3>of anti Semitic violence since nineteen forty five, since the

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<v Speaker 3>terrible years.

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<v Speaker 4>Of the Holocaust.

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<v Speaker 3>And so we're thankful, We're thankful for that verbal support,

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<v Speaker 3>for that diplomatic support. But also they've given us material support.

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<v Speaker 3>They are helping replenish our stockpiles of weaponry, and they've

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<v Speaker 3>of course moved their two aircraft carrier groups to the

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<v Speaker 3>eastern Mediterranean. I think that's a deterrence to other dangerous

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<v Speaker 3>actors in the region not to think that this is

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<v Speaker 3>a time to attack Israel that I think they've been

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<v Speaker 3>playing a very positive role. And when the president here

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<v Speaker 3>is arriving tomorrow in Israel, we will welcome him as

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<v Speaker 3>a friend, as an ally, and we look forward to

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<v Speaker 3>rolling out the red garbet.

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<v Speaker 1>When you talk about foreign nationals and the UK, the

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<v Speaker 1>Prime Minister of Vishasinak talked about ten missing UK nationals.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you saying that foreign nationals are being held hostage

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<v Speaker 1>in Gaza now? Also if they're not being allowed to

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<v Speaker 1>cross the Rapha crossing into Egypt? Is that what you're saying.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm saying that yesterday people were supposed to leave and

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<v Speaker 3>Hamas prevented them from doing so. Their exit was coordinated

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<v Speaker 3>with Israel, with the relevant foreign governments, and Hamas prevented

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<v Speaker 3>that from happening.

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<v Speaker 4>I can say that for a fact.

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<v Speaker 3>Is that how does one explain that? What words would

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<v Speaker 3>you use? I would say that.

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<v Speaker 4>Using foreign nationals as hostages as well?

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<v Speaker 1>What does a long and costly war mean to you?

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<v Speaker 1>Israel's defense sector, you of Galant saying and telling the

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<v Speaker 1>US Sector of State Blincoln that Israeli forces are preparing

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<v Speaker 1>for a long and costly war. How long? What does

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<v Speaker 1>that mean?

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<v Speaker 3>I think it's important to understand that this is not

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<v Speaker 3>another round of Israel Kamas fighting. You know, since Kamas

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<v Speaker 3>took over the Gaza Strip sixteen years ago, we've had

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<v Speaker 3>numerous rounds of fighting where they shot rockets into Israel

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<v Speaker 3>and we responded and so forth.

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<v Speaker 4>That's no longer the case. This is war.

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<v Speaker 3>What they did on October seventh, they're massacre of our people.

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<v Speaker 3>Oney three hundred Israeli deaths and about two hundred people.

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<v Speaker 4>Held hostage in Gaza.

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<v Speaker 3>This isis type behavior, these atrocities. The status quo that

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<v Speaker 3>was before October senth is unsustainable. Israelis will not stand

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<v Speaker 3>for it anymore. We are acting now to change the

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<v Speaker 3>political realities in the Gaza Strip, and when this is over,

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<v Speaker 3>there will be a different reality there.

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<v Speaker 4>We didn't want this war.

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<v Speaker 3>It was forced upon us, and though we didn't start it,

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<v Speaker 3>we will finish it. And when we finish it, we

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<v Speaker 3>will do so on our terms.

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<v Speaker 1>So what is the mood then, if you have been

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<v Speaker 1>in those meetings between Benjamin Netanyahu and Anthony Blinkett, and

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<v Speaker 1>you're expecting the US president now tomorrow, the German chance

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<v Speaker 1>also today, what is the mood in those meetings? Now?

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<v Speaker 1>Ten days after the her mass attack.

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<v Speaker 3>So there's first of all, we're receiving amazing solidarity from

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<v Speaker 3>friends and allies in North America and in Europe, and

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<v Speaker 3>Israel is appreciative of that support. And I think there's

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<v Speaker 3>a determination in Israel to win this. We have no choice.

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<v Speaker 3>We have to win and win decisively, and we will win,

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<v Speaker 3>and we might pay our price. As our Defense minister said,

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<v Speaker 3>this could take This could take time, and many young

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<v Speaker 3>Israeli soldiers who are going into battle might not come home.

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<v Speaker 3>I myself have a daughter who's a reserve officer and

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<v Speaker 3>she was called up and she's in the South, and

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<v Speaker 3>like hundreds and thousands of Israeli parents, I of course

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<v Speaker 3>I am concerned. But when speaking to my they are

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<v Speaker 3>determined to fight to protect their country from these brutal killers.

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<v Speaker 3>We all saw what they did in the massacre of

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<v Speaker 3>October seventh. We know what they're capable of. This is

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<v Speaker 3>a threat that no people on this planet should have

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<v Speaker 3>to live with, and we are eliminating the threat.

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<v Speaker 2>Can I ask you reference October seventh, and of course,

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<v Speaker 2>and that the loss of life and the tactics used

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<v Speaker 2>and the indiscriminate nature of the killing Kearley coming as

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<v Speaker 2>a huge shock to Israel and around the world. But

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<v Speaker 2>now we're in a situation where more Palestinians have died

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<v Speaker 2>since then in Gaza. I wonder what that means in Israel.

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<v Speaker 3>So, of course, we don't want to see civilian casualties,

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<v Speaker 3>and we're making an effort, as I said a moment ago,

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<v Speaker 3>to keep those as low as are.

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<v Speaker 2>Are you making enough effort though, because you say the

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<v Speaker 2>West supports you, and there's been plenty of calls for support,

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<v Speaker 2>but also calls for restraint.

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<v Speaker 3>So we will act within the rules of war or

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<v Speaker 3>the recognized international rules of war. I'd remind you if

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<v Speaker 3>I can use a historic example, when Molossovich was committing

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<v Speaker 3>war crimes against the people of Kosovo, there was a

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<v Speaker 3>bombing campaign by NATO against Belgrade. It was a just campaign.

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<v Speaker 3>It was a struggle to save lives. Innocent Serbs were killed.

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<v Speaker 3>Now that's a sad fact of war. We don't want

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<v Speaker 3>to see it. We will act to minimize it. But

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<v Speaker 3>if you say to me, and I'm not saying you're

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<v Speaker 3>saying it, but maybe other people are. If you say

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<v Speaker 3>to me that, because there will be civilian casualties Israel

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<v Speaker 3>is not entitled to defend itself, to protect itself from

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<v Speaker 3>this horrific terrorist group who ISIS type behavior was on

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<v Speaker 3>display for everyone to see.

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<v Speaker 4>That's not serious.

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<v Speaker 3>Israel has the right to defend ourselves and we will

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<v Speaker 3>do so within the framework of international law and the

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<v Speaker 3>international rules of ARMKORNG.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, international law and the rules of international armed conflict.

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<v Speaker 1>But you say that you will end this on your terms.

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<v Speaker 1>What are your terms? What does victory look like? What

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<v Speaker 1>does Gaza? What does Israel look like? If you want

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<v Speaker 1>to end this conflict on your own terms.

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<v Speaker 3>As you say so, we will destroy Hamasa's military capabilities,

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<v Speaker 3>and we will dismantle its political structure inside the Gaza strip.

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<v Speaker 1>And what is left of any cities and towns in

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<v Speaker 1>Gaza at the end of.

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<v Speaker 3>That well, obviously the Kamas targets will be destroyed, but

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<v Speaker 3>we are not targeting Gaza's civilian population. I repeat, But

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<v Speaker 3>if I can use a comparison, I mean the American

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<v Speaker 3>president and European leaders have made a comparison with ISIS. Yes,

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<v Speaker 3>when the West, when the coalition, the International Coalition defeated ISIS,

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<v Speaker 3>ISIS had a few cities.

0:12:53.040 --> 0:12:54.440
<v Speaker 4>There was destruction there too.

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<v Speaker 3>Sometimes when you are fighting a brutal enemy, that enemy

0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:03.600
<v Speaker 3>implants itself in a civilian population. We don't want to

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<v Speaker 3>hurt civilians, but in many ways that is inevitable. We

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<v Speaker 3>will make a maximum effort to keep that number to

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<v Speaker 3>a minimum. But once again, we can't allow Hamas to

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<v Speaker 3>have immunity. We can't allow them to successfully use Gaza

0:13:19.720 --> 0:13:24.160
<v Speaker 3>civilian population as a human shield for their terror machine.

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<v Speaker 2>Anthony Blincn has said that Israel has agreed a plan

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<v Speaker 2>with the US to enable humanitarian aid to reach civilians

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<v Speaker 2>in Gaza. I wonder if you have any more details

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<v Speaker 2>of how that can be done, what that means for water,

0:13:35.840 --> 0:13:37.319
<v Speaker 2>for medical supplies, and the rest.

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<v Speaker 3>We're working very closely with the Americans on that. We

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<v Speaker 3>had extensive meetings yesterday with the Secretary.

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<v Speaker 2>How soon can we expect those supplies to be allowed

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<v Speaker 2>in because we've seen the pictures of the trucks waiting.

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<v Speaker 3>From my point of view that we want humanitarian relief

0:13:53.640 --> 0:13:56.400
<v Speaker 3>for the people of Gaza, but there are questions that

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<v Speaker 3>need to be answered. Anthony Blincoln said specifically that we

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<v Speaker 3>have to be able to quoting by memory, but he

0:14:03.200 --> 0:14:06.040
<v Speaker 3>talked about to make sure that these supplies reach the

0:14:06.080 --> 0:14:08.880
<v Speaker 3>civilian population of Gaza. And why does that need to

0:14:08.920 --> 0:14:11.440
<v Speaker 3>be said, Because Caamas are the only people on the

0:14:11.440 --> 0:14:14.360
<v Speaker 3>ground inside the Gaza strip with weapons and they have

0:14:14.440 --> 0:14:17.200
<v Speaker 3>the ability to hijack supplies. They have the ability to

0:14:17.240 --> 0:14:19.000
<v Speaker 3>take it away from the civilian population.

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<v Speaker 4>They have done so in the past.

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<v Speaker 2>So does that mean you can't send in any so

0:14:22.760 --> 0:14:24.920
<v Speaker 2>you won't send it with Is it possible to send

0:14:24.960 --> 0:14:27.640
<v Speaker 2>in aid then before you are on the ground, before

0:14:27.680 --> 0:14:28.640
<v Speaker 2>Israel is on the ground.

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<v Speaker 3>We believe it's possible, but we have to find safeguards

0:14:32.960 --> 0:14:35.760
<v Speaker 3>in the mechanisms we use. We don't want fuel for

0:14:35.880 --> 0:14:39.200
<v Speaker 3>Ramas rockets, we want fuel for generators in hospitals. And

0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:41.640
<v Speaker 3>I think that's something that all the donors in the

0:14:41.640 --> 0:14:43.920
<v Speaker 3>international community who want to send aid, they have to

0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:46.520
<v Speaker 3>be assured that the aid is reaching the people of

0:14:46.560 --> 0:14:48.800
<v Speaker 3>Gaza and not Ramas's terrorist machine.

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<v Speaker 1>Can an escalation be prevented with Hesperala and Lebanon Leatnia,

0:14:54.400 --> 0:14:58.360
<v Speaker 1>who has warned not to test Israel in the North,

0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:00.760
<v Speaker 1>that testing does seem to be taking place.

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<v Speaker 3>Yes, and it's a worrying situation. We have no interest

0:15:05.960 --> 0:15:08.120
<v Speaker 3>in an escalation in the North. We have no interest

0:15:08.120 --> 0:15:11.880
<v Speaker 3>in a two front war. But Chrisbela is Kamas's twin.

0:15:12.760 --> 0:15:17.280
<v Speaker 3>They are both terrorist groups. The Arab League calls Kisbela

0:15:17.360 --> 0:15:22.000
<v Speaker 3>a terrorist group, and they because they're in the Iranian orbit,

0:15:22.600 --> 0:15:25.120
<v Speaker 3>they could world see this as a moment of opportunity

0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:29.600
<v Speaker 3>to attack Israel, and it's dangerous. But I will say

0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:33.640
<v Speaker 3>the following one. Chrisbela won't take us by surprise like

0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:36.760
<v Speaker 3>Hamas did. We are on guard, we are looking, and

0:15:36.800 --> 0:15:40.000
<v Speaker 3>we are ready. If they force a war upon us,

0:15:40.080 --> 0:15:46.880
<v Speaker 3>we will respond forcibly and decisively. And unfortunately, unfortunately for Lebanon,

0:15:47.280 --> 0:15:51.480
<v Speaker 3>because chrisbel obviously controls the ground, the Lebanese government is

0:15:52.080 --> 0:15:53.000
<v Speaker 3>largely irrelevant.

0:15:53.200 --> 0:15:55.080
<v Speaker 4>They have no power to restrain Krisbela.

0:15:56.120 --> 0:15:58.720
<v Speaker 3>But I have to be clear such a conflict, we

0:15:58.760 --> 0:16:03.240
<v Speaker 3>will hit isbel A hard, and Lebanon, unfortunately, in the process,

0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:06.400
<v Speaker 3>will also base a terrible price.

0:16:06.840 --> 0:16:09.760
<v Speaker 2>Can I ask you about the wider geopolitics at play here?

0:16:09.800 --> 0:16:12.600
<v Speaker 2>Before that the dreadful events of October seventh that were

0:16:12.600 --> 0:16:15.120
<v Speaker 2>talks between Israel and the Saudis about coming to a

0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:19.760
<v Speaker 2>new understanding, new relationships. Has all of that process come

0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:22.640
<v Speaker 2>to an end? There is there room for any of

0:16:22.680 --> 0:16:23.920
<v Speaker 2>those talks to continue.

0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:25.760
<v Speaker 4>I think yes.

0:16:25.920 --> 0:16:29.560
<v Speaker 3>Obviously, while the fighting's going on, that is a touch

0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:33.520
<v Speaker 3>more difficult. But if we succeed, and I believe we will,

0:16:33.640 --> 0:16:38.720
<v Speaker 3>in decisively defeating Ramas, that's a blow against the enemies

0:16:38.720 --> 0:16:39.160
<v Speaker 3>of peace.

0:16:39.400 --> 0:16:40.200
<v Speaker 4>That's a blow.

0:16:40.000 --> 0:16:44.360
<v Speaker 3>Against the extremists, that's a blow against the Iranian coalition.

0:16:45.720 --> 0:16:50.920
<v Speaker 3>That's a blow against terrorism, and that I think can

0:16:51.040 --> 0:16:53.760
<v Speaker 3>create space for more moderate voices.

0:16:54.120 --> 0:16:56.000
<v Speaker 4>And we're speaking to Arab governments.

0:16:56.800 --> 0:16:59.880
<v Speaker 3>They have no a love for Hamas, they have no

0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:04.199
<v Speaker 3>affection for Kamas. They know exactly who Hamas is, and

0:17:04.240 --> 0:17:07.480
<v Speaker 3>I think they would like to see a different reality

0:17:07.560 --> 0:17:10.800
<v Speaker 3>in Gaza too. They are, of course concerned like many others,

0:17:10.840 --> 0:17:12.560
<v Speaker 3>about Parestinian civilian life.

0:17:13.000 --> 0:17:15.600
<v Speaker 4>We are doing much more and.

0:17:15.600 --> 0:17:18.320
<v Speaker 3>It's actually I think it's interesting because Israel is perceived

0:17:18.320 --> 0:17:21.320
<v Speaker 3>as being the enemy of the Palestinians and Hamas is

0:17:21.320 --> 0:17:25.080
<v Speaker 3>the defender, yes, of the Palestinians, but it's rubbish. We

0:17:25.160 --> 0:17:28.600
<v Speaker 3>are doing more to safeguard Palestinian life in this conflict

0:17:28.600 --> 0:17:34.040
<v Speaker 3>than Hamass, which is using the civilians as a human shield,

0:17:34.320 --> 0:17:38.000
<v Speaker 3>and which is actually preventing them from evacuating areas where

0:17:38.000 --> 0:17:41.359
<v Speaker 3>we know there's going to be terrible combat. They you know,

0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:44.080
<v Speaker 3>in Israel and in democratic countries are armed services. Our

0:17:44.160 --> 0:17:47.479
<v Speaker 3>armed forces are used to protect the civilians in Gaza

0:17:47.560 --> 0:17:51.800
<v Speaker 3>Hamas flips it. They use the civilians to protect the military.

0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:55.240
<v Speaker 1>Mark Gregev, thank you so much for your time this

0:17:55.280 --> 0:17:58.240
<v Speaker 1>morning on Boomberg Radio. Senior advisor to the Israeli Prime

0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:02.040
<v Speaker 1>Minist of Benjamin Nettnia, who also formerly Israeli Ambassador to

0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:03.040
<v Speaker 1>the United Kingdom,