Binyamin Netanyahu
Binyamin NetanyahuBen Kelmer/Flash 90

Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed a graduation ceremony of Israeli Air Force pilots at a special ceremony at Hatzerim Air Base in southern Israel on Thursday.

Speaking to those present, the prime minister promised a tough response to any attempts to break the state of calm along any of Israel's borders.

"The State of Israel is building its strength from year to year, from decade to decade, in aircraft, submarines, in air defense systems such as 'Iron Dome' and the Hetz (air-defense) missile, and with some of the most modern offensive military systems in the world."

Netanyahu revealed that Israel recently acquired three new battleships, in addition to the submarines recently bought from Germany, in order to bolster the country's naval capabilities. He thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her "commitment and ongoing assistance" to Israel's security.

Turning to the new recruits, Netanyahu added: "When you are flying in the country's skies you see just how close the different threats are... In our region there are endless conflicts raging, and terrible and cruel violence."

"The fire of radical Islam is lapping at our borders in the north and the south," he continued. "Your, and our, supreme mission is to safeguard our home, the.State of Israel."

"Our policy for doing so is twofold, to prevent and foil attacks as much as possible, and to respond in strength to any attack," he outlined.

Turning to recent sniper and rocket fire from terrorists in Gaza, he added: "We will not tolerate attacks against us, neither from the Gaza Strip, nor from the Golan Heights, nor from the Lebanese border or from anywhere; therefore, the IDF responded in strength and immediately to the recent attempt by the terrorist organizations to raise their heads.

"We hold Hamas responsible for any violation of the quiet emanating from the Gaza Strip and will act accordingly. Our counter-terrorism actions are carried out in a wide circle occasionally far from our borders. The air force has a decisive role in implementing this policy on land, sea and air. Our soldiers attack terrorist organizations and systematically disrupt the supply of war materiel sent to them mainly by Iran and its proxies.

"We are determined to prevent our enemies from acquiring deadly weapons that could endanger our security, and we are determined to do everything to prevent Iran, which has recently again called for our destruction, from attaining nuclear weapons."