Is Israel planning an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?

The whole world is waiting for Israel’s counterstrike against Iran, speculating on when and how Israel might strike, and what consequences this could have for the already tense situation in the Middle East. On Thursday evening, BILD interviewed Ron Dermer, Minister for Strategic Affairs and one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest confidants, asking: When will the strike happen?

Ron Dermer: “Of course, we will respond. But we will have to wait and see what that response looks like. We did not seek a war with Iran before being attacked, and we are not seeking one now. But any country that has ballistic missiles fired at it will respond.”

BILD: The U.S. opposes a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Do you understand that?

Dermer: “The U.S. has its own positions. Israel always listens carefully to what the United States, our most important ally, has to say. But ultimately, we make sovereign decisions about what we consider to be in our country’s best interest.”

“The Iranian people are not Israel’s enemy”

Would Israel be able to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities without the U.S.?

Dermer: “The regime in Iran works every day through its proxies to destroy the state of Israel. And when it comes to nuclear weapons, a threat must be taken very seriously. The Prime Minister recently said at the United Nations that Israel will do whatever is necessary to neutralize this threat.”

Does this mean that an attack on Iran – specifically on nuclear facilities – remains an option?

Dermer: “It means exactly what the Prime Minister said a month ago: We will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves against those who seek our destruction.”

You said that Israel is not seeking a war with Iran, but what is Israel’s medium- to long-term goal regarding Iran?

Dermer: “I don’t believe that the Iranian people are Israel’s enemy. The enemy of the Iranian people is their own regime, which oppresses and threatens them. I think we are fighting together. So, in the long term, I see only positive news coming from Iran. What we must do is prevent this regime from developing nuclear weapons and running this axis of terror.”

Is it your goal to overthrow the regime in Iran?

Dermer: “I believe the Iranian people should be free. And I think the best thing that could happen for the Middle East is for the Iranian people to take control of their own future.”

“We only want to create security”

There are tens of thousands of refugees in Lebanon, civilian homes are being bombed, and the anger against Israel is growing. What is your goal in Lebanon?

Dermer: “We just want to create security for northern Israel. No country would allow its border communities to turn into ghost towns. When we respond to Hezbollah, we are careful to do everything we can to keep Lebanese civilians out of the danger zone.”

Can Israel defeat Hezbollah?

Dermer: “Of course. We are doing it right now. Look around, see what’s happening.”

But many people continue to support Hezbollah. And after 1982, after the war, Hezbollah emerged as the result.

Dermer: “Most Lebanese do not support Hezbollah. But I think that over the last few decades, they have tightened their stranglehold on Lebanon. Now, this organization is significantly weakened.”

“Israel is a force of civilization”

But you are losing international support. We see French President Macron talking about an arms embargo against Israel. We witness heated debates in Germany and the U.S. How are you handling that?

Dermer: “Luckily, we do not buy weapons from France. We believe that the French President’s call for some kind of arms embargo was a serious misjudgment. We are fighting a war against barbarism, and Israel is a force of civilization. The countries that were once referred to as the West – France, Germany, Britain, the U.S. – should fully support Israel. Because our victory is also your victory.”

There have been debates in the German parliament about arms exports to Israel. Are you currently receiving weapons from Germany?

Dermer: “I am not familiar with the exact details, but we appreciate any support we receive from Germany. I have heard from successive German chancellors that Israel’s security is an important part of Germany’s identity, and that support for Israel is of great significance.”

The Chancellor said in parliament that Germany will deliver more weapons soon. What do you know about that?

Dermer: “I think Germany takes its relationship with Israel very seriously because of the unique history that connects us, regardless of who is in power. I hope that we will continue to receive weapons and support from Germany – including moral support – and that it will stand by our side in international forums.”