The government on Friday held a special meeting at the Independence Hall in Tel Aviv, the site of the signing of Israel's Declaration of Independence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the security escalation vis-à-vis Iran, saying, "We hear the threats from Iran. The IDF and security forces are prepared for any development. We stand firm against those who seek to destroy us. We are not deterred by the price we may have to pay and we will exact it from those who seek our demise.
"The IDF is ready for the mission at hand. We are confident in our ability to defend ourselves, by ourselves and that is the essence of independence," he said.
Deputy Commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami threatened on Friday that "Israel has no strategic depth and it is under threat from the north and south. They [the Jews] will have nowhere to flee except for the sea."
Israel, he said, "Shouldn't rely on its air force bases because they are within our missile range. The United States and Britain won't help it – it won't exist anymore."
Friday's cabinet meeting was held as part of Israel's 70th Independence Day celebrations and as it began, the ministers signed a digital Declaration of Independence.
"We are holding this special cabinet meeting today as part of the wonderful 70th-anniversary celebrations for the State of Israel," the prime minister said.
"We have all participated in the exciting events marking our Independence Day, and what was evident in these events was the public's joy. Israelis are proud of our country, they love it and they appreciate its achievements in every field. Their joy and pride are sincere.
"The fifth of Iyar 5708 [May 14, 1948] is a formative date in our history. On this day, in this room, the People's Council gathered here and declared the establishment of a Jewish state in the land of Israel, restoring our sovereignty over this land.
"David Ben-Gurion then read the Declaration of Independence. He summed it up with a concise statement, saying, 'The State of Israel was established, the exile of Israel has ended.' And I say, the people of Israel have been reborn because if, heaven forbids, the State of Israel had not been established, the Jewish people would have shrunk in exile and perhaps again suffer inconceivable blows. It is doubtful whether we would have been given another opportunity to establish our sovereignty."
Israel's inception, the prime minister said, "Has created a national center for our people, free of assimilation and blessed with constant growth. It has given us strength, bolstered our spirit and ensured the future of the nation."
Netanyahu further thanked world leaders who sent Israel congratulatory messages, first and foremost "the president of our steadfast ally the United States, Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. These messages reflect Israel's rising status among the nations."
The prime minister also thanked Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev, whose office oversaw the production of the official Independence Day ceremony, for her efforts.
