Israel signals iron deterrence, exposing Iran-led terror axis and rejecting hostile Muslim states in Gaza.
Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat delivered one of the clearest deterrence messages yet to Iran, warning that any future aggression would trigger retaliation “seven times stronger.” Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Barkat underscored that Israel has already demonstrated Iran’s vulnerability and will not hesitate to strike harder if threatened again.
“Iran leads the axis of evil,” Barkat said, accusing Tehran of systematically destabilizing the Middle East through Hamas, Hezbollah, and ballistic missile proliferation. He credited Israel’s recent military actions with shattering Iran’s illusion of strength and reshaping regional calculations.
On Gaza’s future, Barkat ruled out participation by states that have supported jihadist terror, explicitly naming Pakistan, along with Qatar and Turkey. “Any country that backed terror is not welcome,” he said, making clear that Israel will not allow hostile Muslim powers to gain a foothold on its borders under the guise of peacekeeping.
Barkat emphasized that Israel’s goal is defense, not regime change, stating that Iran’s internal future is for Iranians to decide. However, he left the door open to peace if Tehran abandons its obsession with Israel’s destruction, pointing to Israel’s successful peace treaties with Egypt, Jordan, and the Abraham Accords as proof that former enemies can become partners.
He strongly endorsed the Trump administration’s peace framework, calling it “far better than the UN, which is biased against Israel.” Barkat highlighted cooperation with pragmatic Arab leadership in Hebron as a model for Gaza’s future—local leaders willing to fight terror, reject radicalism, and pursue economic cooperation with Israel.
Dismissing the two-state solution as dead, Barkat said it lacks support in Israel’s parliament and warned that the Palestinian Authority seeks statehood not for peace, but for Israel’s destruction. His message was unequivocal: security first, terror rejected, and Israel will decide who stands on its borders.
