‘If we need to stand alone, we will stand alone,' says Netanyahu ahead of Memorial and Independence holidays

Responding to White House positioning, Netanyahu pledges resilience and success

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In a video message to the nation ahead of the weekend, and just days before Memorial Day and Independence Day in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a resilient and almost defiant tone.

The Israeli leader urged the nation to stand united as he recalled the Independence War in 1948 when the fledgling Jewish nation was outnumbered and appeared to be outgunned due to an international arms embargo.

"We are on the eve of Independence Day,” Netanyahu stated. “In the War of Independence 76 years ago, we were the few against the many. We did not have weapons. There was an arms embargo on Israel, but with great strength of spirit, heroism and unity among us – we were victorious.”

Netanyahu acknowledged the difference between Israel then versus now and how it has already become a regional power and an exporter of advanced weaponry.

“Today we are much stronger. We are determined and we are united in order to defeat our enemies and those who want to destroy us.”

In what appeared to be a response to the withholding of promised U.S. weapons shipments promised by President Joe Biden, and amid shifting global sentiments, Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would be prepared to act alone if necessary.

“If we need to stand alone, we will stand alone,” Netanyahu stated. “I have said that if necessary – we will fight with our fingernails.”

Netanyahu’s statements appear to also be in response to the remarks by White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby earlier on Thursday when he told reporters that Biden does not believe a Rafah operation will advance Israel’s objective of defeating Hamas.

“Smashing into Rafah, in his view, will not advance that objective,” Kirby told the reporters at a briefing and said the White House still believes that negotiations are the best path forward.

“We still believe that there’s a path forward, but it’s gonna take some leadership on both sides,” Kirby stated. “And it’s going to take a little bit of moral courage on both sides to finally be able to come across that table and ink this deal.”

However, Kirby did acknowledge that only Israel can choose whether the IDF should enter Rafah, the southern town in Gaza where Hamas battalions are currently positioned.

“That’s a choice that Israel will have to make,” the U.S. spokesman said, “and it’s one we hope they don’t.”

Netanyahu, on the other hand, remained steadfast in his resolve and quoted a common slogan of resilience in Israel.

“We have much more than fingernails, and with that same strength of spirit, with God's help, together we will win,” Netanyahu said.