Netanyahu Says Rebbe Inspired Him to Take Stance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to prevent the “darkness” of a nuclear Iran, speaking at a Chanukah ceremony at Jerusalem’s Western Wall Thursday. He said his stance is due to the inspiration of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

“We have come to banish the darkness and the greatest darkness that threatens the world today is that of a nuclear Iran,” he said. “We are committed to doing whatever we can to prevent this darkness. If possible, it would be preferable to do so by diplomatic means and if not we will serve as a light to the nations.”

“We are now holding contacts with the U.S. and the P5+1 governments, with the major powers, regarding the type of agreement that could banish this darkness, and it must, in the end, lead to the result of the dismantling of Iran’s military nuclear capability,” Netanyahu added.

The Prime Minister also conveyed wishes for a speedy recovery to a young girl who was injured earlier Thursday in a Jerusalem stoning attack.

“The first thing I would like to do this evening is to send my best wishes for a quick recovery to the baby girl who was injured by criminals here in Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said. “We will find the criminals and bring them to justice. We will watch over our city.”

Explaining his outspoken and vocal stance on recent developments between Iran and world powers over the country’s nuclear weapons program, Netanyahu said that he sees it as his duty to speak “the truth.”

“I am not caught up in illusions. Just today it was reported that a reactor in North Korea is back online – and this is after an agreement that everyone celebrated. I believe in speaking the truth and standing up on important principles in order to ensure global peace and our security, and of course, our peace,” he said.

Netanyahu said that he was inspired to take this position by the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson: “I believe in this because I recall something the Lubavitcher Rebbe told me when I went to the UN. He told me: ‘Remember that even when you are in a world that is all dark and you light one candle, one candle of truth, the light – the precious light that this candle gives off, is seen from afar.’”