PM Netanyahu at the Start of the Government Meeting
Israel - Prime Minister's Office
Type: Media Statements
Government: The 37th Government
Publish Date: 02.11.2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the start of the Government meeting:
"The incident in Sde Teiman caused immense damage to the image of the State of Israel and the IDF, to our soldiers. This is perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment. I do not recall one so focused with such intensity. This demands an independent, impartial investigation, and I expect such an investigation to be carried out.
I wish to speak about our struggle against the elements of the axis. The Iranian axis suffered a massive blow. We broke it in many places, and even where we broke it, it still exists, licking its wounds, trying to recover. Our effort is to deny it the ability to recover, and this is what we are doing on the various fronts.
The first front is in Gaza, where Hamas suffered crushing blows; it is a shadow of what it once was, but it is also trying to recover. We are operating on four focal points. One - returning our hostages. Their attempts are pathetic, trying to mislead us, the US, and the world; they will, of course, not succeed, and we will gradually bring back all of our hostages. We are committed to this.
Second - there are still Hamas pockets in the areas under our control in Gaza, and we are systematically eliminating them. There are two in Rafah and in Khan Yunis, and they will be eliminated.
Third is the entire question of risk to our forces, and my directive is unequivocal: If there is an attempt to harm our forces, we strike those who inflict the harm and also their organization, for the purpose of protecting our forces. This is what we have determined.
We report to our American friends; we do not ask for their permission. This must be understood because I hear things that are simply incorrect. We maintain the supreme security responsibility, and we will not relinquish it.
Fourth is the disarmament and demilitarization of Hamas. Disarming Hamas, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip is the principle we uphold. This is the principle agreed upon between me and President Trump. This is how we operate, according to a clear plan. Of course, if this is not done in the first way, then it will be done in the second way, and everyone knows what the second way is and who will also carry it out.
Regarding Lebanon - Hezbollah is indeed taking hits all the time, including in these very days, but it is also trying to arm itself and recover. We expect the Lebanese government to do what it committed to do, namely to disarm Hezbollah, but it is clear that we will exercise our right to self-defense as stipulated in the ceasefire conditions. We will not allow Lebanon to become a renewed front against us and will act as necessary.
The third place that attention should be paid to, which the Israeli public does not notice, is the Houthis. The Houthis appear to be a negligible nuisance. From time to time, they fire a ballistic missile at us; we intercept these missiles. This looks like a small matter. It is not a small matter; it is a very great threat from a movement that is fanatical, in the most extreme way imaginable, that has its own production capability for ballistic missiles and other weapons as well, and it is committed to what they call 'The Program for the Destruction of Israel.' This is not theoretical; this is something that can develop over time. It is, of course, coordinated with Iran, and we will do everything necessary to eliminate this threat as well. In other words, we are still operating against an axis that, even though it is broken and beaten, is trying to renew its plans for the destruction of Israel. We will, to say the least, deny it the capabilities to do so.
Simultaneously, we are building our country, developing it. And today, in particular, I want to note what we are doing in the Negev, regarding the healthcare system in Be'er Sheva, which essentially serves the entire Negev. Today, the government will decide on a supplement of NIS 360 million for the construction of a new tower at Soroka, the hospitalization tower, which will also be hardened. In total, the investment is over NIS one billion - one-third from the government, one-third from Clalit Health Services, and one-third from our friend Sylvan Adams.
Sylvan is a great donor to the State of Israel and does so with great generosity and wholeheartedly, sometimes even with a not-so-simple effort, a not-so-simple aerobic effort on a bicycle. But you elevate Israel's prestige in various fields, and you truly make a great contribution. I want to thank you on my behalf, on behalf of the Government of Israel, and on behalf of the citizens of Israel, and certainly on behalf of the residents of the Negev."
Sylvan Adams [translated from Hebrew]:
"Prime Minister, ministers and friends, thank you for inviting me today. It is a great honor for me to donate $100 million for the rehabilitation, construction, and transformation of Soroka Hospital into the best and most advanced hospital in the Middle East."
Sylvan Adams [English]:
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thank you for your leadership in this most difficult period since the founding of the State of Israel. While we were devastated on that Black Sabbath, you led the country as we fought back with ingenuity that sometimes looked like science fiction but with unimaginable bravery and strength.
We're stronger and safer today than we were on October 6th, thanks to your wisdom, guidance and bravery."
Sylvan Adams [translated from Hebrew]
"I am a great believer in the State of Israel. I am proud of our heroic soldiers and our wonderful young generation. I am very proud to be Jewish and Israeli. My blood is blue and white. Am Yisrael Chai!"
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