(Oct. 29, 2024 / JNS) Israel is pursuing a “long-term strategy” focused on neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program and proxies, despite claims to the contrary, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.

Speaking at the opening of the Knesset’s winter session, Netanyahu pushed back against recent claims that Israel’s war effort lacked focus.

“After each of our achievements, I hear the former officials in the television studios say: ‘Well, we understand the immediate war goals, but what’s the strategy?’” he said. “So if it’s not clear by now, I will lay it out in simple terms: Our long-term strategy, which I hope will be achieved shortly, is to dismantle the Evil Axis, sever its tentacles in the north and south, exact a heavy toll from Iran and its proxies and prevent it from obtaining nuclear arms.”