NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Ohad Tal, a member of the Israeli parliament, expressed to Fox News Digital that forming an agreement with Iran should not be the primary aim until the “evil, jihadist regime” is overthrown. This statement followed President Donald Trump’s appeal for both parties to begin negotiations.
Tal, who is part of the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committees, shared his views with Fox News Digital on Sunday from near Jerusalem, amidst ongoing exchanges between Israel and Iran for the third consecutive day.
“We are currently engaged in a conflict with Iran, one that I believe holds historical significance. I hope that through this, we will not only free ourselves and the Iranian people but also rid the world of the threat posed by Iran’s oppressive regime,” he stated.
Earlier Sunday, Trump said on TRUTH Social that “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” noting how his administration has successfully negotiated other conflict resolutions, including between India and Pakistan, “by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!”
Tal said Iran has suffered “an unbelievable amount of damage” and the IDF “basically has total control over the Iranian airspace.” Israeli forces, he argued, are targeting military bases, nuclear facilities and officials, while Iran is targeting civilian populations. Some Iranian missiles have made it past Israel’s aerial defense systems.
“That’s a culture that glorifies death, doesn’t care about civilian casualties, and we’re a culture that sanctifies life,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto via Getty Images | Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu via Getty Images | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images | )
Tal said he has received support from U.S. officials, including members of Congress.
He believes that Israel’s actions are in line with Trump’s “America First” policy, in that the ongoing operation will prevent the United States from being pulled into a broader conflict.
“We’re getting the support from the Trump administration 100 percent,” Tal said. “Trump is supporting America First Policy. We are also supporting America First Policy because fighting this evil regime will help to prevent much, much bigger war.”
“If the Iranians would have managed to get their desire and acquire a weapon, that would not have just been a threat to America,” he continued. “We’re not asking [for] American boots on the ground, we’re not asking America to fight for us. We’re just asking them to support us in taking away the threat coming from Iran.”
Fox News’ Peter Doocy contributed to this report.
