Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated the importance of stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons, telling members of the Mossad intelligence agency that it is “our ultimate mission.”
“If we do not prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, we will be in a different reality where the entire world will be held hostage by a party bent on destroying us, and that is why this is our ultimate mission,” said Netanyahu.
“I want to tell our enemies that they should not mistake us: No internal debate will prevent us from doing what needs to be done together to protect our country and prevent them from fulfilling their desire for destruction,” the premier continued.
He spoke at a ceremony honoring Mossad operatives for the years 2021-22.
The honorees were presented with the Prime Minister’s Award, which is handed out every two years for “ground-breaking and inspiring operations” that advance the security of the State of Israel.
“Your operations were approved out of the same faith I have in your abilities, in your initiative, in your creativity, in daring and also in success. Not all of them succeeded but the vast majority succeeded, and sometimes succeeded above the expected,” said the prime minister.
Mossad chief David Barnea said that the honorees were the “spearhead” of important security actions that are conducted “far from the spotlight.”
“By combining forces and minds, with patience and tolerance, and with endless dedication in the face of enemies who do not cease for a moment to act to harm our people, in the face of enemies who may pose an existential threat to our country, in the face of them, you are the ones who turned a vision into reality,” said Barnea.
Netanyahu in 2021, during his previous stint as prime minister, tapped Barnea to lead the Mossad, replacing Yossi Cohen.
