Netanyahu says Israel will do ‘whatever we need to do to defend ourselves’ against Iran

Benjamin Netanyahu has repeated a claim that Israel will do “whatever we need to do to defend ourselves” against Iran.

In an interview with Sky News the Israeli prime minister claimed diplomacy has failed to stop Tehran from developing its nuclear capabilities.

Netanyahu also appeared to confirm a growing gulf between his and US president Joe Biden’s stance on Iran after rejecting attempts to resolve the growing crisis with Tehran only through dialogue.

“I don’t think that diplomacy by itself will work. I think diplomacy can only work if it’s coupled with a credible military threat or the willingness to apply the military option if deterrence fails,” Netanyahu told the television news channel.

“Iran is openly committed to destroying, repeating the Holocaust and destroying the six or seven million Jews of Israel and we’re not going to sit by, idly by and let them do it.

“(If) these Ayatollahs think that they could threaten us with a nuclear holocaust they’re wrong. We will do whatever we need to do to defend ourselves.”

The Israeli PM also criticised the US for condemning the building of a Jewish religious school on West Bank land as violating his country’s promises to Biden.

Netanyahu said the American statement on this had been “completely false” as this is “the land of Israel” but he added “the Palestinians are here and we’re not going to push them out, we’re here and they’re not going to push us out.”

Netanyahu also spoke of his hope for further peace deals between Israel and Arab states as part of the The Abraham accords, including Saudi Arabia.

But he admitted a deal with the Saudis would be a “quantum leap forward” because the state is the “most influential” country in the Muslim world.

On domestic issues, Netanyahu was asked about a possible compromise deal over his coalition government’s judicial reforms, which have sparked protests at home and aboard.

He admitted:”I’m not sure we will get one. ”

He also attempted to dismiss concerns about the Israeli economy, saying the problems in the country were political ones.