Five days out from Israel's third general election in under a year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was optimistic when he addressed a conference of regional council leaders on Wednesday.
"We are only two seats away from establishing a strong, right-wing government and preventing a fourth election," Netanyahu said.
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"Otherwise, we'll get a government under [Blue and White leader Benny] Gantz that is dependent on Ahmad Tibi and the Joint Arab List. A government like that would endanger Israel's security," the prime minister added.
Netanyahu also addressed the recent two-day spike in violence between Israel and the terrorist factions in the Gaza Strip.
"The last decade has seen the fewest military [personnel] and civilians wounded. That's not a coincidence. It stems from an aggressive policy. A wise policy of using force responsibly," Netanyahu said.
"It might be that there is no alternative to a wide-scale military operation. We are preparing it differently from what we have done thus far. I am not in a hurry to launch an operation that will lead to a war," he added.
While there were no casualties among Israelis living in the western Negev, the prime minister said, "there are psychological scars. This is not something that can be allowed to continue for long."
"We need to deal Hamas and the other terrorist organizations a terrible blow, more than what they imagine, more than targeting their leaders in their beds. That is our last resort and we hope we won't have to use it, but if we do, we'll win," Netanyahu said.
