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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that Israel's mission against Iran "is not yet complete," accusing Tehran of trying to renew efforts to obtain nuclear weapons and warning Hezbollah against joining Iran in any renewed war.
"Against Iran, the mission is not yet complete. Iran is trying to renew its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, alongside other serious efforts that put the State of Israel in real danger. We cannot accept these threats," Katz said at a state memorial ceremony on Mount Herzl for soldiers killed in the 1956 Sinai campaign, known in Israel as Operation Kadesh.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
"The State of Israel is determined today, more than ever, to stand firm on its fate, to prevent the blow before it comes, and to act from a proactive and offensive policy against our enemies," Katz said.
"It is our duty to be prepared for every scenario and to act as necessary to protect Israel’s citizens," he added.
"We will not withdraw from the security zones in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and if the terrorist organization Hezbollah chooses to join Iran in an attack on Israel, it will suffer extremely severe blows," he said.
"It’s permitted to argue and permitted to disagree, but when the security of the state is at stake, we must know how to rise above the disputes. We have one country, one army and a shared fate," the Israeli defense minister said.
"Our enemies need to know that even when we have differences of opinion, against those who threaten our existence we stand together, determined and united," he said, adding, "The missions before us are great, and to meet them we will need all the strength of the IDF and all the resilience of the people."
Katz spoke as President Isaac Herzog was set to formally task opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, backed by 67 lawmakers, with forming a new government. Eisenkot will have 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension.
If he succeeds, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government will end.
Eisenkot has warned the military that Netanyahu has no mandate and that it should not go to war for his "political needs," though the former army chief has largely backed Netanyahu’s war decisions.
Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened new strikes against Iran in recent weeks, but it remains unclear whether he has the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose Republicans suffered major losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, partly over the war.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported Friday that Netanyahu and the Mossad attempted an operation against Iran on the eve of Israel’s Oct. 27 election, but the United States found out and stopped it.
Katz’s remarks on Iran suggest pressure for further action continues.
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