PM Netanyahu: Iran Responsible for 80 Percent of Israel’s Security Problems

Iran is responsible for “80 percent of Israel’s security problems,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday. Mr. Netanyahu was speaking at a memorial service on the 25th anniversary of a suicide bombing attack by Iranian-sponsored terrorists on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. A total of 29 people – four of them Israelis – were killed in that attack.

The attack, which took place in March 1992, was perpetrated by Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah terrorists, who were linked to Iran by Israeli investigators. Israel has been under constant attack by Iran, “and we are still foiling terrorist attacks by Iran even today,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “Iran organized this attack and via Hezbollah carried it out. And as if that wasn’t enough, they struck again two years later,” he said, referring to the attack on Buenos Aires’ Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina Jewish community center in 1994. 85 people were killed in that attack, and hundreds of others were injured. Top Hezbollah terrorist Imad Mugniyeh was indicted in Argentina for both attacks. Mugnieh was killed in 2008 in a mysterious bombing attack in Damascus.

“We warned even back then of the monster of Iranian-sponsored terrorism and the sickness that sends out these attacks all over the world, but it is still here,” said PM Netanyahu. “Iran is the biggest promoter of terror on earth, but this is just one aspect of its aggressiveness. It is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, and its ballistic missile program is causing instability in the region. Its government continues to threaten Israel with destruction. A top security official told me that 80 percent of Israel’s security problems are caused by Iran.

“We are not afraid, and we are building our own forces to meet this threat,” the prime minister added. “We have developed a great deal since the attacks in Argentina. We will continue to oppose the arming of Hezbollah with dangerous weapons. We have our thick, clear red lines, and we will not hesitate to enforce them.”