REUTERS
“This was indeed an operation by Iran. That is clear,” Netanyahu told Kan radio.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) in front of a bust of Theodor Herzl. Both are wearing COVID-19 masks. / (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran on Monday for a blast aboard an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman last week but sidestepped a question on whether Israel would retaliate.
The MV Helios Ray, a vehicle-carrier ship, was hit overnight by a blast above the water line that a US official said ripped holes in both sides of its hull.
“This was indeed an operation by Iran. That is clear,” Netanyahu told Kan radio.
Asked if Israel would retaliate, he repeated previous statements about his determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capacity and added: “We are striking at it (Iran) all over the region.”
Tehran has not commented on the incident nor responded to earlier Israeli accusations that it might have been involved.
Kan said the interview was recorded on Sunday night, before Syria accused Israel of carrying out missile strikes around southern Damascus. Israel did not confirm that, but has previously said it was launching frequent military actions against Iranian deployment or arms handovers within Syria.
The prime minister also took time on Monday morning to address additional topics during interviews with Israeli media.
Concerning possible efforts to grant the prime minister immunity amid his indictments, Netanyahu told Army Radio on Monday that he “isn’t dealing with it at all, in any form.”
“I’m not advancing and I’m not blocking. I’m not giving and I’m not not giving. There won’t be a need for it, because everyone sees that the cases are falling apart,” said Netanyahu. “We’re not asking for delays. These are tailored cases that are falling apart before our eyes, and from this also we will come out very nicely. They’re trying to overthrow a prime minister, it will not help them, you will see it in the election.”
Netanyahu added to Army Radio that he’s working to sign deals with Moderna and Pfizer to receive more vaccines in the future for coronavirus variants.
“In half a year you have no more vaccines, it could be that the coronavirus will be back and then you’re in an endless round of lockdowns. So, I’m working on it right now,” said Netanyahu. “I am currently negotiating with Pfizer and Moderna to bring in vaccines that will suit the new mutations. These are nothing prices compared to the closure of the economy, death and endless morbidity. When I brought these vaccines you all did not believe it was possible.”
Referring to possible plans to extend the school year, Netanyahu stated that the issue would be discussed at an upcoming cabinet meeting and that extending the school year is “a very good thing.”
“It is a question of where we will get a budget – summer school will cost maybe a percent or two of everything we brought to the citizens during the coronavirus period. Education is important to me, that the children receive an education and the parents are released to work,” said Netanyahu.
The prime minister additionally told KAN Reshet Bet that not so many vaccines were transferred by Israel to other countries. “How much are we talking about? 20 or 30 thousand against millions of vaccines? The government has been updated, we took 20,000 out of 12 million to help the countries that help us, what’s the big deal?”
Netanyahu attacked the officials preventing from passing his economic plan, stating “I have a NIS 15 billion plan that includes helping the self-employed and encouraging employers to bring back workers from unpaid leave. Why is this not happening? Because politicians and political officials are stopping it because of the election. Why are they doing it? If they do not stop it with delusional legal arguments, I will bring the plan for approval on the first day of the next government.”
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