Excerpt from PM Netanyhu's Speech at IAF Pilots' Course Graduation Ceremony
PMO 25 December 2015


The following is an excerpt from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech,
today (Thursday, 25 December 2015), at IAF pilots' course graduation
ceremony at Hatzerim:

"The State of Israel is building our defensive strength from year to year,
from decade to decade, with planes, submarines, air defense systems such as
Iron Dome and the Arrow and with offensive systems that are among the most
advanced in the world. Today I am pleased to announce that three days ago we
added an important component to our defensive force. We purchased four new
Saar vessels: this is in addition to the submarines that are being built for
the navy. I would like to thank German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her
commitment and constant assistance to our security.

When one flies over the state one sees how close to us the various threats
are. In our region there are endless disputes and awful, brutal violence.
The fire of Islamic fanaticism is licking at our northern and southern
borders. Your, and our, supreme mission is to safeguard our home, the.State
of Israel.

Our policy for doing so is twofold, to prevent and foil attacks as much as
possible, and to respond in strength to any attack. We will not tolerate
attacks against us, neither from the Gaza Strip, nor from the Golan Heights,
nor from the Lebanese border or from anywhere; therefore, the IDF responded
in strength and immediately to the recent attempt by the terrorist
organizations to raise their heads.

We hold Hamas responsible for any violation of the quiet emanating from the
Gaza Strip and will act accordingly. Our counter terrorist actions are
carried out in a wide circle occasionally far from our borders. The air
force has a decisive role in implementing this policy on land, sea and air.
Our soldiers attack terrorist organizations and systematically disrupt the
supply of war materiel sent to them mainly by Iran and its proxies.

We are determined to prevent our enemies from acquiring deadly weapons that
could endanger our security, and we are determined to do everything to
prevent Iran, which has recently again called for our destruction, from
attaining nuclear weapons."