Netanyahu to Nasrallah: Stay in your bunker

"Don't doubt Israel's ability to defend itself," PM says after Hezbollah leader threatens to conquer Galilee.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, HERB KEINON
Netanyahu has a point 311 (photo credit: Moshe Milner)
Netanyahu has a point 311
(photo credit: Moshe Milner)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, at the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations gathering in Jerusalem, responded to Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's speech Wednesday.
"Whoever hides in a bunker should stay in the bunker," Netanyahu said. "No one should doubt Israel's strength or its ability to defend itself"
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He added: "Nasrallah said he would capture the Galilee, I have news for you - you won't."
"We have a strong army," he added. "We seek peace with all of our neighbors, but the IDF is prepared to defend Israel from any of its enemies."
Netanyahu also discussed the protests in Egypt.
"No one knows what the future holds for Egypt," he said. "In Washington they don't know, in Tehran they don't know, and even the columnists in The New York Times don't know."
Netanyahu added that "Israel is interested in a democratic Egypt that will live peacefully with its neighbors."
"On the other hand, the leaders in Tehran want to see a different Egypt," he explained, "that is ruled by Iranians that oppress human rights. They don't want an Egypt that looks to the 21st century, but one that looks to the ninth century."
The prime minister added that an "Egypt that supports Iran will support terror."
Nasrallah: The Israelis are afraid
Nasrallah spoke earlier Wednesday, at a "Resistance Martyrs Day" ceremony.
"I tell the fighters of the resistance that one day they might be asked to liberate the Galilee," he said.
"The Israelis are afraid," Nasrallah said. "I want to assure you and tell the Israelis that they should be careful because the blood of Imad Mugniyeh will not go to waste."
"Gantz came to visit the Lebanon border - welcome," Nasrallah said, referring to the new IDF chief of staff. "He is the one that was defeated and pulled IDF troops out of Lebanon. You have a completely weak chief of staff."
The Hezbollah leader also discussed Israel's reactions to the protests across the Middle East, citing Defense Minister Ehud Barak's assessment that the Middle East is "changing in front of our eyes."
Nasrallah added that Israel is no longer as confident as it once was.
He explained that the Middle East's main problem is "the existence of Israel...that killed and slaughtered, confiscated the lands and kicked people put, with sponsorship from the West."
"Israel is the one that expanded toward Lebanon and Syria," Nasrallah said.
Speaking to US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Nasrallah said that "justice means that property should be returned to its owners. In light of such justice, there will be stability in the region. However, searching for justice through peace talks cannot achieve peace."
Nasrallah also lamented the relationship between the US and Israel, saying "the US categorizes you in the 'axis of evil' if you are against Israel. When an Arab or Islamic system does not give in [to the US] it becomes isolated." He expressed admiration for the Iranian revolution, that "kicked the Americans out and severed relations with Israel."