Rivlin, Lieberman commemorate Six-Day War, point to Iran as Israel's new peril
Israel's president and defense minister attend a ceremony marking the Six-Day War, taking the opportunity to point to Iran as the greatest new threat the country now faces; DM Lieberman: 'Even today, as back then, the international community is burying its head in the sand.'
Israel marked the 51st anniversary of the Six-Day War Sunday, with President Reuven Rivlin and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman taking the podium at a commemoration ceremony to speak about the new great threat the country faces—Iran, its malign influence on the region and the imperiled international nuclear agreement signed with it.
"51 years have passed since the Six-Day War and the war that followed—the War of Attrition," Rivlin said at the memorial hall on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. "Within days, weeks of anxiety for the fate of our country ended.
"Those who lived here in those days will never forget the tension, the heroism, the victory and the sacrifice. It was a war of life and death.
"Our security and economic situation is immeasurably better, but there are other threats to us that must be addressed. The State of Israel is prepared and ready for any scenario. Anyone who tries to hit us with force will be hit hard."
He then went to speak about the US' withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, calling it "a significant step for the security of the region and the entire free world."
"Iran still poses a real threat to Israel's fate," he continued. "We do not for a moment forget the arms race that it is leading on our borders and we are closely monitoring (it)."
He concluded by reiterating that, while Israel "will continue to fight steadfastly and resolutely" to defend itself, it is, and never will be, "eager to fight."
Taking the stage, Lieberman opened his speech by thanking US President Donald Trump for his "brave decision" to recognize Jerusalem as the Israel's capital and transfer the US embassy there all while standing resolutely in the face of threats by Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as for his decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.
He continued by drawing similarities between the time of the Six-Day War and now, lamenting the international community's refusal to confront Iran's threat and military entrenchment in Syria.
"Even today, as back then, the international community is burying its head in the sand in light of the civil war in Syria," he lamented. "The conclusion is that we can rely only on ourselves and our ally, the United States, and its steadfast stance alongside Israel."
