The complex relationship between war goals and the results on the ground took center stage during a fascinating segment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s interview this evening on the program “The Patriots.” Panel member Dr. Avishai Ben Haim raised the subject, noting that current strategic achievements—including control over Gaza, a security buffer zone in Lebanon, and a joint strike with the U.S. in Iran—have surpassed the threshold of the “absolute victory” declared by the administration at the start of the campaign. In response, Netanyahu detailed the defense establishment’s fulfillment of the established goals, while providing a glimpse into his diplomatic tactics vis-à-vis the world.
Netanyahu presented the three central goals that guided the cabinet and the fighting echelons in the Gaza Strip, detailing the status of each:
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The Return of the Hostages: The Prime Minister defined the efforts to retrieve our hostages as a paramount objective, adding with satisfaction: “No one believed in it.”
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Eliminating the Military Threat: As the second goal, Netanyahu noted ensuring that no military threat remains from Gaza against the State of Israel. “And currently, there is none,” Netanyahu stated. As proof of full operational control and grip on the territory, the Prime Minister mentioned recent maneuvers: “We recently eliminated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, and what was the reaction? Zero. We control them and have them in our grip.”
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Collapsing the Civilian Government: Netanyahu defined this as the third goal of the campaign, promising: “And we will get there too.”
During the interview, panel members raised the questions occupying the right wing of the coalition, wondering if the issue of “voluntary emigration” of Gaza residents is still on the table. Additionally, the Prime Minister was asked about the possibility of Jewish resettlement in the Gaza region, especially in light of Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s remarks that preparations are underway to establish communities—contrary to Netanyahu’s past statements that such a move was unrealistic. Netanyahu chose not to answer directly, but offered a practical worldview: “The question is, do I prefer to act or to talk? And yes, I prefer not to comment.”
The Prime Minister concluded the diplomatic portion of the discussion by explaining how he manages the external diplomatic pressures exerted on Jerusalem. Netanyahu described a strategy that requires a combination of tactical flexibility alongside standing firm on red lines: “Choose exactly the places where you must stand up to the world. Where possible, say yes, and where it is necessary to stand firm on interests, say no.”