Netanyahu told the gathered cadets on Thursday that Israeli security policy now eschews the notion of \u201ccontaining\u201d threats, indicating, instead, that Israel now actively confronts threats beyond its borders.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t come to the jungle, the jungle comes to you,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no more containment of threats. There is no more Mabam,\u201d Netanyahu said, using the Hebrew acronym for the \u201ccampaign between wars.\u201d The \u201cMabam\u201d military concept guided IDF operations, notably in Syria and Lebanon, for the decade before October 7, 2023. Netanyahu was in office for all but 18 months of that period.<\/p>\n \t Turning specifically to Gaza, Netanyahu reiterated his promise that Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized.<\/p>\n Speaking at the same time as Trump addressed the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, where he declared that the war<\/a> in Gaza is over, Netanyahu stressed that \u201cthere will be no rehabilitation of the Strip before the demilitarization of the Strip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery soon, Hamas will face a dilemma \u2014 to give up its weapons the easy way, or to give up its weapons the hard way,\u201d Netanyahu declared. He added that demilitarized zones or security zones inside enemy territory \u201care a vital need in order to minimize the danger of a ground invasion,\u201d noting with pride that IDF troops remain in strategic positions inside Syria and Lebanon.<\/p>\n Also speaking at the same ceremony on Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will act against \u201cevery threat, near and far.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe beheaded the leadership of the Houthi terror organization in Yemen that attacked Israel, and removed the threats of annihilation over the State of Israel in Operation Rising Lion in Iran,\u201d Katz said. \u201cWe will not allow threats of annihilation against the State of Israel in the future either, and we will act against every threat, near and far.\u201d<\/p>\n The defense minister added: \u201cI say from here to all our enemies: Do not test us and do not challenge our determination, because you will find a united people and a strong and victorious army facing you.\u201d<\/p>\n \t And speaking after Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military\u2019s \u201ceyes are open in every direction, and our finger is more poised on the trigger than ever in the face of any change in the operational reality.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who seeks to test our determination will encounter power that will exact an immediate and heavy price,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) attends an IDF cadets graduation ceremony alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz (second from left), President Isaac Herzog (second from right) and IDF chief Eyal Zamir (right) at the Bahad 1 officers school in southern Israel, February 19, 2026. (Kobi Gideon\/GPO)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8888555-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tDefense Minister Israel Katz speaks at a cadets\u2019 graduation ceremony at the Bahad 1 officers\u2019 school in southern Israel, February 19, 2026. (Screenshot\/Israel Defense Forces)<\/p>\n
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