Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Israel remains in the midst of a multi-front war despite recent military gains, while also launching a sharp political attack on the center-left and defending the coalition’s efforts to protect the Torah world through recently advanced legislation.

In an interview with HaMahadura HaMerkazit, Regev stressed that the war is far from over, noting that IDF forces continue operating on several fronts simultaneously and warning that the Iranian threat has not disappeared.

“No, we are still at war. Our soldiers are still in the security zone in Lebanon, in strategic areas of Syria, and in more than 60 percent of the Gaza Strip,” she said.

Speaking about Iran, Regev reiterated the government’s determination to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“Iran cannot become nuclear. Iran will not become nuclear. The uranium will be removed from there.”

Regev also praised the Trump administration’s recent approach toward Iran, arguing that Washington has now come to recognize what Israel has long maintained about the Iranian regime.

“President Trump and the Americans have experienced firsthand the Iranians’ lack of credibility,” she said.

She added that the decision to reimpose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates that U.S. leaders now understand that no lasting agreement can be reached with Tehran. Regev further argued that Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia have reinforced among moderate Arab states the understanding that “Iran, together with the Houthis, together with Hezbollah and together with Hamas, are essentially proxies of terror.”

Addressing the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon, Regev said Israel has no intention of withdrawing as long as security threats remain.

“The IDF is there in the security zone that separates the residents of southern Israel from Hamas,” she said.

She added that Israel would likewise maintain its security presence along the northern front “as long as we need to remain there,” arguing that only the complete disarmament of Hamas and Hezbollah would make it possible to establish lasting security.

Turning to domestic politics, Regev commented on the ongoing debate within Likud over the party’s primary system and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s request for reserved slots on the party’s electoral list.

She said she supports holding party primaries while also believing Netanyahu should retain the ability to reserve places on the slate.

“There is no doubt that Likud members should come and influence the composition of the next Likud list for the Knesset,” she said.

At the same time, she emphasized Netanyahu’s central role within the party.

“Likud is Netanyahu, and Netanyahu is Likud, and the one who brings us the greatest number of mandates is Netanyahu.”

Regev said the internal debate over the issue reflects the democratic character of the Likud rather than internal weakness.

Looking ahead to the next election, Regev sharply criticized former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and the center-left bloc, warning right-wing voters not to be misled.

“Don’t be fooled by Gadi Eisenkot’s smile and image. He is part of the left,” she said.

She argued that a government headed by Eisenkot would neither safeguard Israel’s security nor preserve the country’s Jewish identity.

“The other camp will not protect religion or tradition,” she said, adding that the longstanding partnership between Likud and the chareidi parties would continue in the future.

Regev also voiced support for the recently approved Basic Law: Torah Study and for legislation freezing the arrest of bnei yeshivah.

“As far as Torah study is concerned—the Basic Law: Torah Study—I have absolutely no problem with it. We all understand that Torah study is a value,” she said.

Regarding the proposed arrest freeze, Regev said that had there already been broad agreement on a draft law, such legislation would have been unnecessary.

She also criticized the IDF Chief of Staff’s public opposition to the bill.

“I don’t understand why politics is being brought into this issue,” she said, adding that the IDF itself had participated in formulating the proposal before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Concluding the interview, Regev said she supports expanding military service among the chareidi public, but only through dialogue and accommodations that respect the community’s way of life.

She also criticized the IDF Chief of Staff for what she described as insufficient engagement with rabbanim from the Religious Zionist community.

“The Chief of Staff needs to meet with them, and the Chief of Staff needs to sit down and talk with them,” she said.

Regev concluded by saying Israel today needs “an army that is both smart and large,” adding that increasing enlistment will require cooperation with both the chareidi and Religious Zionist communities while preserving their religious values and lifestyles.

{Matzav.com}