PM Olmert Returns to Israel from Greece: "We Stand Fully Beside US in the Just Fight for Security, Peace and Self-Defense" • Netanyahu made his return to Israel from Greece, though earlier his office announced that visit to Greece would continue as usual • Ministers were instructed not to interview
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday addressed the US Air Force attack and the assassination of Quds Force commander in the Revolutionary Guards, General Qassem Suleimani, and fully backed the United States' actions under President Trump. Before Netanyahu boarded the plane back to Israel from the summit in Greece, he said that "as Israel has the right to self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right."
The prime minister emphasized that Israel backs the United States' recent action and congratulated Trump on the speed of response and the way events were handled. "Kassem Suleimani is responsible for the deaths of many other American civilians and innocents. He was about to organize further offensive actions and President Trump deserves every appreciation for acting with determination, power and speed," said Netanyahu, adding that "we stand completely alongside the US in its just fight for security, for peace. And self-defense. "
Netanyahu on Suleimani's assassination: "President Trump deserves all the praise" // Photo: Eran Bar-Tal
Earlier today, Netanyahu decided to advance his return to the country from Greece after the assassination of Qods Force commander Qassem Suleimani. This, though, was announced earlier by the Prime Minister's Office that there were no changes to his timetable in Greece and that his visit would continue as usual. He was also reported to receive regular security updates during the visit. At the same time, the prime minister instructed the ministers not to comment on the elimination issue.
Near four o'clock in the morning, the IDF instructed the Hermon site to close its doors following Suleimani's assassination. This led Defense Minister MK Naftali Bennett to hold a status assessment for a few hours in Tel Aviv's Kariya with the participation of the chief of staff and security officials. Among the participants in the discussions were the head of the institute Yossi Cohen, the head of the Brigadier General Meir Ben Shabbat, the Chief of Staff Tamir Heiman, the Deputy Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the Home Front Command Colonel Tamir Yadei and the Chief of Operations Division, Major General Aharon Haliva.
Recall, the drama that shakes the world in general and the Middle East in particular, began during the night that Iraqi media reported that the US Air Force had killed the Quds Force commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Qasim Suleimani, along with a senior terrorist commander suspected a-Sha'abi, Abu Mahadi To Mohandas as they left Baghdad International Airport.