Netanyahu Warns Against Strengthening Egyptian Military Capabilities

Translation by SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Egyptian army must be monitored and that its capabilities should not be allowed to strengthen.

This came during a closed discussion session in the Israeli Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, where he was answering questions from committee members, as SadaNews translated.

Knesset member Merav Michaeli attempted to mock Netanyahu, saying to him: "We will not allow the strengthening of Egypt's military, except for the purchase of submarines," referring to the corruption case involving submarines.

Regarding Iran, Netanyahu affirmed Israel's readiness to deliver a second and stronger blow than the previous one.

He indicated that he does not know what U.S. President Donald Trump will decide regarding Iran, noting that there is close coordination between them.

Netanyahu revealed that the General Security Service (Shabak) issued an official document on the morning of October 7, 2023, at 5:15 AM, summarizing all alerts received during the night from Gaza. According to him, the document did not reach his office until 9:47 AM, more than four hours after it was distributed and after the attack occurred.

Netanyahu claimed that the original document did not include any instructions to inform him, indicating that such instructions were suddenly added to reports submitted recently by the Shabak, alleging that the security agency forged the document and added the reporting clause, which was signed by the then Shabak chief, Ronen Bar.

Netanyahu read to the committee members the minutes of previous government meetings and claimed that former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was the one who stopped extensive operations in the Gaza Strip.

He read from the meeting minutes: "Bennett has always opposed the occupation of Gaza."

Some opposition members emerged from the closed discussion angry, attacking, "Is this what we came here for? To hear Bibi read to us protocols from governments against Bennett, Eisenkot, and Gantz... Does he think we are fools? They didn't allow us to ask a single question."