Feed aggregator

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu broke his silence Monday night on the newly signed nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, insisting that Israel remains committed to preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons and claiming that recent military operations inflicted damage on Iran approaching $1 trillion.

Speaking at a special press conference from his office in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel’s strategic objective has not changed despite the agreement reached between President Donald Trump’s administration and Iran.

“For decades, I have fought against Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. I can define it as my life’s mission,” Netanyahu said. “With an agreement or without an agreement, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Not today and not tomorrow. As long as I am Prime Minister of Israel, it will not happen.”

Responding to critics who have questioned the outcome of the conflict with Iran, Netanyahu argued that Israel achieved historic gains and removed an existential threat.

“I hear people asking what we achieved, and I answer them: We removed the threat of immediate annihilation hanging over us,” he said.

The prime minister described the joint Israeli-American military campaign as “the largest strike operation in Israel’s history,” saying it resulted in the elimination of nuclear scientists, the removal of senior regime leaders, and the destruction of key nuclear facilities.

Netanyahu also provided what he said was an estimate of the damage inflicted on Iran’s military and economic infrastructure.

“We destroyed missiles and the overwhelming majority of the factories producing missiles. We destroyed their navy and their air force,” he said.

According to Netanyahu, the total damage amounts to “hundreds of billions of dollars,” with some assessments placing the figure at “close to a trillion dollars.”

He argued that without the military operation, Iran would already possess nuclear weapons, creating what he described as a catastrophic threat to millions of Israelis.

Turning to other fronts, Netanyahu rejected calls that had urged Israel to end the war in Gaza before entering Rafah.

“They told me, ‘Don’t go into Rafah, end the war.’ I did not accept that nonsense,” he said.

Netanyahu asserted that Israel entered Rafah and succeeded in bringing home all of the hostages.

On the northern front, he said Hezbollah has been dramatically weakened.

“Hezbollah is a shadow of what it once was,” Netanyahu declared, adding that Israel prevented the Radwan Force from carrying out an invasion of the Galilee and destroyed most of the organization’s rocket arsenal.

The prime minister emphasized that Israel will continue maintaining security zones captured during the fighting for as long as military considerations require.

“We will remain in the security zones as long as necessary to protect our country,” he said. “Israel will not allow terrorist organizations to establish themselves on our borders.”

Netanyahu also addressed reports of disagreements with President Trump, stressing that while the two leaders may not always agree, he remains focused on safeguarding Israel’s interests.

“Trump is the President of the United States, and I am the Prime Minister of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “I am responsible for our security interests, and I stand by them. When necessary, I stand firm.”

Looking ahead, Netanyahu confirmed that he intends to seek another term in office.

“Yes, I am going to run, and I intend to win,” he declared.

He also announced plans to add NIS 350 billion to Israel’s defense budget, saying the funds will be used to strengthen domestic weapons production and accelerate the development of advanced military technologies.

“Israel is stronger than ever before, and Iran’s axis of evil is weaker than ever before,” Netanyahu concluded. “Together, with Hashem’s help, we will ensure the eternity of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Uri Maklev sharply criticized Israel’s funding model for religious councils during a heated Finance Committee meeting Tuesday, arguing that religious services are subjected to an unfair budget structure not imposed on other public services.

What began as a technical discussion regarding local government participation rates quickly evolved into a broader debate over the status and funding of religious services in Israel.

Earlier in the day, the Finance Committee approved participation rates for local authorities in funding religious councils, including a redistribution plan under which approximately NIS 36 million will be transferred from financially stronger municipalities to weaker ones.

During the discussion, Maklev questioned why religious services receive significantly less state support than other public sectors.

“Is there any other field in which the state’s participation is so low?” Maklev asked.

He argued that while the government covers the overwhelming majority of costs in education, welfare, and other public services, local authorities continue to shoulder a substantial portion of the expenses associated with religious services.

According to Maklev, the arrangement has existed for years and has created ongoing challenges for the development and expansion of religious services throughout the country.

“When it comes to education, welfare, and other public services, the state funds most of the costs,” he said. “Yet when it comes to religious services, we find ourselves fighting every year for budgets and even for the continued existence of those services.”

Maklev warned that the impact is felt most acutely in financially struggling municipalities that have difficulty meeting their required share of the funding burden. In many cases, he said, this hampers the day-to-day operation of religious services and limits their ability to expand.

During the hearing, Maklev sought clarification on how municipal participation rates are determined and what criteria are used to allocate responsibility among local governments.

Government representatives responded that the formula is established by law and is determined jointly by the Finance Ministry, Interior Ministry, and Ministry of Religious Services.

Maklev, however, maintained that the funding mechanism itself is fundamentally flawed.

“Marriage services, burial services, mikvaos, kashrus, and rabbinical services are not luxuries,” he stressed. “These are basic services to which every citizen is entitled. There is no reason the state should treat them as less important than education or welfare services.”

At the conclusion of the session, the Finance Committee approved the 2026 funding guidelines for religious councils. Under the arrangement, roughly NIS 36 million will be redistributed from wealthier municipalities to weaker ones while maintaining the overall budget framework.

Under the approved formula, stronger municipalities will contribute a larger percentage toward the budgets of their religious councils, while weaker municipalities will contribute less, with local participation rates ranging from 25% to 75%.

UTJ officials noted that the approval follows extensive work with government ministries aimed at ensuring the continued operation of religious councils nationwide.

Still, Maklev’s central question remained unresolved: Why are religious services funded under a model that differs so dramatically from virtually every other public service provided by the state?