00:00Israel is defending itself on seven fronts against the enemies of civilization.
00:30This morning Hamas launched a murderous attack against the State of Israel and its citizens.
01:00Today marks the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel, a date that ignited
01:25a profound conflict across the region.
01:29In the wake of this tragedy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts that Israel
01:35is fighting a war of self-defense not only on one, two or three, but on seven fronts.
01:44We're fighting in Gaza against Hamas, those savages who murdered, raped, beheaded and
01:50burned our people on October 7th.
01:53We're fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the most heavily armed terror organization
01:57in the world which was planning an even greater massacre than October 7th on our northern
02:02border and that has rocketed Israeli towns and cities for nearly a year.
02:08We're fighting against the Houthis in Yemen and the Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria
02:12that together have launched hundreds of drones and missile attacks against Israel.
02:17We're fighting against terrorists in Judea and Samaria who are trying to murder civilians
02:21in the heart of our cities.
02:23And we're fighting against Iran which last week fired over 200 ballistic missiles directly
02:28at Israel and which stands behind the seven-front war against Israel.
02:35In a recent message, Netanyahu condemned calls from French President Emmanuel Macron and
02:42other Western leaders for an arms embargo against Israel, declaring it a disgrace.
02:50He emphasized that Israel is facing an alliance of foes – Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon,
02:59the Houthis in Yemen, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, Palestinian groups in the West
03:06Bank and Iran itself.
03:09Let's break this down.
03:12Each enemy represents a unique challenge for Israel.
03:18First, Hamas.
03:21This group has governed Gaza since 2007 and is notorious for launching rocket attacks
03:28on Israeli cities.
03:31The October 7 attack in 2023 were among the deadliest, with approximately 1,200 Israelis killed.
03:41Hamas's stated goal is the destruction of Israel, making it a center figure in the ongoing conflict.
03:53Second, Hezbollah, based in Lebanon.
03:59Established in the 1980s, this Iran-backed group has engaged in multiple conflicts with
04:07Most notably, the 2006 Lebanon War.
04:12Hezbollah possesses a vast arsenal of rockets aimed at Israel and is known for its cross-border
04:20attacks and incursions.
04:23Third, the Houthis in Yemen.
04:30Although primarily focused on the civil war in Yemen, they have attempted drone and missile
04:36strikes against Israel, aiming to extend their influence across the region and demonstrate
04:43solidarity with other anti-Israel factions.
04:47They have halted many Western and Israeli operations in the Red Sea, further escalating
04:55violence.
04:58Fourth, Shiite militias operating in Iraq and Syria.
05:07These groups, heavily funded and armed by Iran, have launched attacks on U.S. forces
05:13and indirectly threaten Israel through their proximity.
05:17They are involved in regional conflicts and contribute to instability.
05:23Fifth, various Palestinian groups in the West Bank.
05:31These factions, including factions like Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Quds, Al-Qassam, have engaged
05:39in violent protests, stabbings, and shooting attacks against Israeli civilians and also
05:46military personnel, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
05:54Sixth, Iran.
06:00As the primary backer of these groups, Iran provides military support, training, and funding.
06:08Iranian leaders have openly called for the destruction of Israel and coordinate attacks
06:14through their proxy networks in the region, not to forget last week's biggest ballistic
06:21missile attack on Israel.
06:25Finally, other Islamist extremist groups that rally around the same ideology.
06:35These groups share a commitment to opposing Israel and have conducted various attacks
06:41or incited violence against Israelis, contributing to a climate of perpetual threat.
06:52Netanyahu's message underscores a grave reality.
06:56The forces aligned against Israel are united, while he calls for solidarity among civilized
07:03nations to support Israel's fight against what he describes as barbarism led by Iran.
07:11However, the impact of this war extends beyond military victories.
07:17The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel, with reports of nearly 41,900 Palestinian
07:25casualties, raises urgent questions about the future of both people.
07:32The cycle of violence perpetuates suffering on all sides.
07:39As we mark this anniversary, it's clear that conflict is not just a battle of arms, but
07:47a profound struggle over ideology, identity, and the very existence of a person.
07:55With a landscape marked by seven enemies, the hope for peace feels more distant than
08:02ever.
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