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Iran Declared War on Israel Long Ago; Now It Is Facing the Consequences
(Times of Israel) Yair Lapid - Israel's overnight strike in Iran was a necessity. A regime that repeatedly declares its strategic goal to be the "total annihilation of Israel" cannot be allowed to possess the nuclear capability with which to achieve that goal. A regime that has twice launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel has no right to expect immunity. A regime that for years fueled deadly terrorism across the Middle East and beyond, that bankrolled the Oct. 7 massacre and Hizbullah's missile attacks against Israeli civilians, declared war on us long ago. What Iran is facing now are the consequences of that war. Israel did not seek this war, but we are determined to win. Victory means an Iran without a nuclear capability, an Iran deterred from further escalation, an Iran that understands it cannot spread terrorism in the region without paying a price. This war is not against the people of Iran. This war is against the fanatical Iranian leadership that is the enemy of freedom-loving people everywhere. The Iranian leadership is misreading Israel. We are a thriving democracy. There is no hiding the disagreements in our country and the passionate debates in our politics. Iran's leaders assume that democracy is the source of our weakness. The opposite is true; it is the source of our strength. Israel has always stood united in the face of existential threats. I stand fully behind the goals of this operation and behind our security services. The opposition will offer assistance in any way that it can to ensure the success of the mission. When it comes to the security of the people of Israel in the face of our enemies, we are one people, with one mission. Our children will not live in fear of an Iranian nuclear bomb. The writer, a former prime minister of Israel, is currently the leader of the opposition in the Knesset.