The NdB Sunday Show - Mark Regev: Israel and SA, Israel and the US, and the end game of the Iran War

In the latest NdB Sunday Show, Chris Steyn spoke to Mark Regev, the former senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Israel, he says: “... it's clear we're going through a difficult period. South Africa says it wants to promote peace and justice in the Middle East. But you can't do that by only speaking to one side. You can't do that by ignoring one side.” He contrasts that to a visit to Israel by the late President Nelson Mandela during which he stated that Israel had a right to live behind secure borders. Asked what Israel would do if US President Donald Trump exited the Iran war under pressure, Regev was adamant that Israel would protect itself.. “Now, if that can be done diplomatically through an agreement, of course we would support that. If unfortunately the regime isn't willing on its own devices…to stop its quest for a nuclear weapon, then Israel…reserves the right to act.” He deems Israel to be in a better place now than before the October 7 Hamas massacre: “we have bounced back and we have shown that we can defend ourselves, and those who will try to murder our people, those who will try to butcher our children, will pay a price.” As for the elimination of Hamas operatives involved in the attack, he stresses that “longstanding Israeli policy is that you will be brought to justice one way or another”. Regev explains why “no one in Israel is going to be talking about a Palestinian state for the foreseeable future”. And describes how Israel has also “decimated” Hezbollah, whose “ferocious military machine” was “much stronger” than that of Hamas and the Lebanese State. Regev is also a former Ambassador to the UK, the co-host of the "Israel Undiplomatic" podcast, and lecturer in International Relations at Reichman University.