“As in the days of the Maccabees, though we are few against many, we are a state of about 10 million facing many, facing enemies who only recently fought us, numbering some 200 million,” said the Israeli premier.
(Dec. 15, 2025 / JNS) “We know there will be further attacks,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday evening in the wake of the Sydney Chanukah massacre, adding that the safest place for Jews is where “we can defend ourselves”—in Israel.
“We defend ourselves with the Israel Defense Forces, with the security forces and with the heroic policewomen and policemen of the Israel Police,” Netanyahu stated.
The premier delivered these remarks at a Chanukah candle-lighting event at the Police Academy in the city of Beit Shemesh, attended by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel Police Commissioner Insp. Gen. Danny Levy and the family of Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last fallen hostage remaining in Gaza.