Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon issued a blunt warning Tuesday about the budding axis of evil in the region being formed by Iran, and its continuing active support for terror activity.
Speaking to reporters during a working visit to Cyprus on Wednesday, Ya’alon pointed out that Tehran has not stopped arming the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group. He also noted that Hezbollah has tried to set up terror cells in Cyprus this past year as well – attempts that were foiled by Cypriot security forces.
“The State of Israel views Cyprus as a true friend. Relations between the defense establishments, militaries, and intelligence communities go back years, are deep, and important,” Ya’alon said.
Ya’alon signed a Status of Force agreement on Wednesday together with his Cypriot counterpart. The document strengthens cooperation between the militaries of the two nations.
The Israeli defense minister told reporters that “true friends” are becoming more important as the region becomes more unstable. In fact, Ya’alon said the region may be on the verge of launching World War III.
“Syria has turned into a playground in which powers play, as do terror organizations and the states that activate them. The situation is chaotic, not only in Syria but in other states in the Middle East, and it influences not only the area, but the whole of Europe…
“We are in the midst of a war between cultures. In a certain sense, this is a third world war, [albeit] in a different manner from what we have known,” he added. Any state prepared to help Israel in stabilizing the situation will find “a partner in us, including states we have no relations with,” Ya’alon said.
Iran is a main force driving this impending cyclone, he added.
“The Iranian regime, through the proxies it trains, funds, and arms, is trying to undermine stability in the Middle East and beyond.
“It attempts to spread the revolution, and stops at nothing, including ambitions to build a dangerous axis, which starts in Tehran, moves through Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Sana’a, and other regional states,” Ya’alon said.
“Thus, the Iranian appetite to arm terror organizations that obey them, including Hamas and Hezbollah, will grow. The Iranians are trying to arm Hezbollah all of the time, including attempts that have occurred recently,” he said.
“The Western world must act with determination against the threat, since this common threat, whose values and ways are the opposite of ours, strives to disrupt our lives and create a reality we must not agree to.”
