Gideon Levy: Israeli journalist on the latest in Israel-Iran tensions, ceasefire proposed by Egypt

The Israeli-Iranian war looks to have been put on pause for now.

Egypt's president is proposing a two-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for hostages.

The proposal follows retaliation strikes from Israel's army on Iranian military targets, including in Tehran – killing four soliders.

Israeli journalist Gideon Levy told Tim Beveridge Iran's defence systems were likely damaged.

“If Israel would like to attack Iran again, it will be easier because the defence systems, at least part of them, are neutralised.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [ben yar min / net in yahoo] has been heckled at an October 7 memorial ceremony, by relatives of Hamas victims.

Levy says any response from Iran is on pause.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:16):
Now, all eyes are on Iran and if they hit
back against Israel. So the onslaught was the largest on
Iranian soil in more than thirty years. Israel's leaders say
the bombings were precise and against military targets. Four Iranian
soldiers were killed in the process. And joining me now
is Israeli journalist and analyst Gideon Levi. Gideon, Hello, Hello, Hello,

(00:41):
So any further indication whether Iran might hit back.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Nobody knows, but my guess would be that at least
not for the very close future, they are going to
close this chip term. They might react later on, maybe
not directly through the proxies, but right now it seems
that we are going to assert and the lot cease fire.

(01:11):
But holding fire between Iran and israel I mean the
Israeli Iranian war was prevented yesterday, at least for the time.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Is there something to be read into around sort of
brushing it off and saying that there wasn't any serious damage,
in other words, so that the RESK is not escalating it.

Speaker 3 (01:36):
Absolutely, they are saving face. Israel claims the damage was
quite serious, and I don't know where is the truth,
but the fact is that very few casualties, which is
also very important.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
What do we know what Iran lost in the attacks,
or maybe we should say what they didn't lose.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Oh, they didn't lose a lot because their huge country
is a huge with huge military kid abilities. This is
not Ramasobella, this is a regional superpower. But no doubt
that their defense system were damaged. And if Israel would

(02:23):
like to attack Iran again, it will be easier because
the defense systems, at least part of them are neutralized.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Does that play unto the fact that Iran might not
retaliate and that's been quite a well designed operation by Israel.

Speaker 3 (02:43):
If they will be reasonable, and I hope they will,
but I'm not sure if they will be reasonable. They
should not retaliate because then we will get into a
regional war, which will not be good for both parties.
It's really in their hands now.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Are you optimistic ever cease fire?

Speaker 3 (03:06):
No, not at all Israel. Israel doesn't want it.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
Israel doesn't want what forever until What are Israel's objectives
in your view?

Speaker 3 (03:20):
I think in Israel. Too many people see this current
horrible war as an opportunity and for those you have
to take advantage of this opportunity and not stop in
the middle. They really believe that Israel can, once and
for all, as they stay, put an end to the
dangers around it, at least the concrete one Chrisbela, Hamas

(03:45):
and maybe Iran. And as long as this will will
be the mindset, there is no reason for Israel to stop,
especially when the Americans are busy with other things.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Now, would the eradication if that's ever possible of the
proxies around proxies being his Bollah, Hamas, etcetera. That is
that possible? And is that what Israel's goal?

Speaker 3 (04:07):
Is Israel going is to crush them all? But this
is not possible because you can crush them for a time,
for a while, but not forever. I mean, the thought
that military operations can solve everything is by itself wrong

(04:27):
and unfortunately Israel beliefs now only in solving problems by force.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
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