The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet convened for a lengthy meeting on Sunday that is believed to have focused on Iran's increasing threats against Israel.
Among Israeli officials, there is serious concern over Iranian aggression in the region, and in particular the recent attack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, which has so far gone unanswered by either Riyadh or Washington.
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This was the first such meeting by the cabinet since the Sept. 17 election.
On Sunday, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz alluded to the severity of the situation when he said, "The Iranians are on our border" and advancing toward Israel.
At the Knesset's swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We face a huge security challenge, which is growing week to week and strengthening in the last month to two months, and in particular in recent weeks. This is not spin, this is not caprice. Those familiar with the details know how true these things are. Anyone with eyes in their head sees that Iran is increasingly arming itself, Iran is growing stronger. Its boldness, its audacity are on the rise.
He said Iran "attacks international waterways, it attacks the Arabian Peninsula, it attacks everywhere. It sends terror emissaries everywhere, and it also directly attacks US aircraft, and now Saudi [Arabia]'s oil fields. And it says in the clearest way, that is what their generals said, including two days ago, "Israel will disappear. This is not a theory. Israel will disappear."
He continued, "They believe this. They are striving for this, and we need to take them seriously. This reality obligates us to become stronger. It obligates us to arm ourselves, our fighters and our soldiers, with defensive and offensive weapons on a scale, at an intensity and quality we have not had until now. … Mark my words."
