Immediately after the Oct. 7 massacre, Israelis and others began talking about Israel Victory as never before. I list the statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately (here); the following, in no particular order, are what others said.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant quoted himself informing President Joe Biden that Israel's victory "is essential for us and for the United States." To his soldiers, he declared, "I am responsible for bringing victory." He repeated this theme again and again: "It is my duty that we win [against Hamas]." He only has one goal: "Israel's victory over this difficult and evil enemy. ... in front of our eyes is only victory in the war." He reiterated: "my supreme obligation [is] absolute victory in the war."
Bezalel Smotrich, the minister of finance, announced the halt "of all budgetary outlays and redirected them to one thing only: Israel's victory." He called the goal of Israel's war with Hamas to be "a crushing victory." He explained: "We have been saying over and over in the last two weeks that we have one mandate and that is victory. What is a victory? When no child in Tel Aviv, in Haifa, or in the surrounding area of Israel will have a question mark as to whether we won or if there was a meaningful new defeat of this evil."
Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, deemed it "the time for resilience and victory."
Meir Ben Shabbat, former national security advisor: IDF "commanders and soldiers fight with great determination, showing courage and a resolve to win. They will continue until victory is achieved."
A source in the War Cabinet meeting with Joe Biden: "If Israel's victory over Hamas is not total, its strategic standing in the Middle East and deterrence against its enemies will be significantly damaged."
Ohad Tal, member of Knesset: "We will stand like an iron fist in front of you until victory."
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of the Southern Command, to troops: "Southern Command stations, commander is speaking. We are launching an attack on Hamas and the terror groups in the Gaza Strip. Our goal is one, victory. No matter how long the fighting will be, how difficult, there is no other result but victory. We will fight professionally and powerfully in light of the IDF values we were raised on. Chief among them is sticking to the mission and striving for victory."
Noam Tibon, a retired general "The people need to feel security ... they need to be sure that we are going to be victorious. I don't think [Netanyahu] can lead us to victory."
Lieut. Col. Tomer Greenberg: "The enemy will challenge us but I'm sure victory will be ours." Asked to define victory, he replies: "To wipe out as many terrorists as possible and make sure that those in the Gaza periphery will live in peace."
Lauren Friedman, an F-35 reserve technician: "There's no doubt in my mind about Israel's victory, and I don't think it will be too far away."
Donald Trump, former U.S. president: ""You have to fight to win, and you have to support Israel."
Juan Vargas and Randy Weber, Democratic and Republican members of Congress: "Israel's victory must be decisive. Anything less would be catastrophic."
Daniel Elliott, the state treasurer of Indiana, explained Indiana's increased investment in Israel Bonds from $65 million to $100 million: "This bond purchase reflects the confidence we have in Israel's victory."
Gadi Taub, Hebrew University: "Biden blocked any way to an unequivocal Israeli victory picture, something that signals our enemies that we are weak and dependent on others."
Naim Qassem, the deputy chief of Hezbollah: "If necessary, we will be present at the battlefield and part of the confrontation in a bid to prevent Israel's victory."
Itzik Shmuli, CEO of the New York Federation in Israel: "We all have one goal and that is Israel's victory in this campaign."
Amotz Asa-El, Israeli journalist: "At this stage of what will surely be a protracted and excruciating war, all our minds, resources, and efforts should be aimed at one thing, and at this one thing only: victory."
Tatiana Mazor, a Ukrainian immigrant to Israel: "Israel's victory over Hamas is vital not only to Israel's security but also to the security of the entire Middle East and the world itself."
Jordan Schachtel, journalist: "The Israeli government must insist upon nothing less than a total victory for Israel."
Moshe Radman, an anti-judicial reform activist: "Netanyahu is today the only thing that stands between us and victory."
Lawrence Haas: "Nothing would reduce innocent deaths in Israel and Gaza more than Israel's total victory over Hamas. ... For regional and global peace and stability, the case for a total Israeli victory is equally robust: it centers on the impact that Israel's victory—along with parallel and supportive U.S. policies—would likely have on the aggressive aspirations of critical regional and global powers."
Eytan Gilboa: The war "is heading toward a decisive Israeli victory."
Seth Mandel, American editor: "Israel's victory over Hamas would be America's, too."
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the Bnei David pre-military preparatory yeshiva: "Think about Israel's victory in battle" to sustain morale.
Rabbi Abraham Malamud: "On the home front, we need to increase our rights before our Father in Heaven, more Torah study and more recitation of Psalms, more acts of kindness, more giving and more charity, more lightening the face of others and love of Israel, less slander, less anger, less gratuitous hatred, more calm and joy in homes. Every little spiritual improvement is a huge contribution to the campaign for Israel's victory."
Tommaso Francesco, Italian journalist: "The current Israeli war cabinet is hanging on solely on the mad principle of 'revenge for victory'."
Pardeep Teji: "A Prayer For Israel's Victory."
Pavel Katz, a new immigrant from Russia: "I strongly believe in Israel's victory."
Uri Dagon, journalist: "We will emerge victorious."
Fiamma Nirenstein, former Italian parliamentarian: "Israel's usual enemies at "Human Rights Watch," the New York Times, The Guardian, and the Washington Post are on the frontlines and front pages to twist the truth of the images. ... Only Israel's victory over Hamas will prevent the memory from being buried."
Naftali Bennett on MSNBC 's Morning Joe, 9 November 2023: "Israel Victory is our only option."
Ted Cruz, U.S. senator (R-Texas.): "I am confident that Israel's victory will be decisive."
"Blow the Trumpet for Israel Victory Song!!!"
Adi Schwartz, Israeli author: "We have to win."
Nave Dromi, Middle East Forum: Israel Victory means Israel
must root out and have a zero tolerance for Palestinian Arab violent rejectionism. It must defeat all terror groups, whatever their name. Israel should be breaking the will of Palestinian Arab leaders so that they give up their Jihad, through military, economic, political or diplomatic means. They must be forced to accept the permanence of the Jewish State in its ancestral and indigenous homeland. This is the only way to finally bury Palestinian Arab violent rejectionism and end the over 100-year-old conflict once and for all.
David Horovitz, editor, Times of Israel: Israel is in "a war that simply has to be won. ... the IDF ... is not looking for victory pictures. It is looking for victory."
John Hagee, head of Christians United for Israel: "Israel's victory will come when Hamas and Hezbollah are in the ash heap of history along with Haman and Hitler. There is no substitute for victory!"
Ekathimerini (Greece) editorial: "Hamas can't be managed or contained, Hamas should be totally uprooted and broken. Only then victory will be accomplished. For Israel, after October 7, there is no other alternative but ending the war in a way that victory will be beyond doubt, decisive and sealed."
Mark Regev, senior adviser to the prime minister: "Israel's victory will be a victory for the people of Gaza and the entire Middle East, a victory for moderation and civilization."
Douglas Altabef, chairman of Im Tirtzu: "Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz, ... Bring us the victory that we, your citizens, demand. We will accept nothing less."
Zvi Yehezkeli, analyst: "We need victory."
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