In a rare and direct appeal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken to the media to deliver an impassioned message to the people of Iran. Speaking past the Iranian regime, Netanyahu sought to reach ordinary Iranians, highlighting the stark contrast between their aspirations for peace and prosperity and the regime’s pursuit of conflict and repression.
“I speak a lot about the leaders of Iran. Yet, at this pivotal moment, I want to address you, the people of Iran. I want to do so directly, without filters, without intermediaries. Every day, you see a regime that subjugates you, making fiery speeches about defending Lebanon and Gaza. Yet every day, that regime plunges our region deeper into darkness and more profoundly into war.
Every day, their puppets are eliminated. Ask Mohammed Dev. Ask Nasrallah. There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach. We will go nowhere to protect our people and our country.
With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you, the noble Persian people, closer to the abyss. The vast majority of Iranians know their government doesn’t care a whit about them. If it cared about you, it would stop wasting 1,000,000,000 dollars on feudal wars across the Middle East. It would start improving your lives. Imagine if all the vast money the regime wasted on nuclear weapons and foreign wars were invested in your children’s education and, improving your health care, and building your nation’s infrastructure, water, sewage, all the other things that you need.
Imagine that. But you know a straightforward thing. Iran’s tyrants don’t care about your future, but you do. When Iran is finally free, and that moment will come much sooner than people think, everything will be different. Our 2 ancient peoples, the Jewish and the Persian, will finally be at peace.
Our 2 countries, Israel and Iran, will be at peace. When that day comes, the terror network that the regime built on 5 continents will be bankrupt and dismantled. Iran will thrive as never before. Global investment, massive tourism, and brilliant technological innovation are based on the tremendous talents inside Iran. Doesn’t that sound better than endless poverty, repression, and war?
From Khome to Isfahan, from Shiraz to Tiberise, there are tens of millions of good and decent people with 1,000 years of history behind them and a bright future ahead of them. Don’t let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The entire world deserves better.
I know you don’t support the rapists and murderers of Hamas and Hezbollah, but your leaders do. You deserve more. The people of Iran should know Israel stands with you. May we together see a future of prosperity and peace.”
