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Israel's Defense Minister to Iran: If We Get Rain From You, You'll Get a Flood From Us

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Say what you want about Donald Trump, but he’s a natural when it comes to tough talk. His off-the-cuff “fire and fury” remark about North Korea, for instance, not only sent liberals into a tizzy but also became an instant classic.

The line was so iconic that Michael Wolff used it as the title of a book intended to undermine the president, a choice that completely backfired after historic peace talks began just months later in North Korea.

Now, it looks like another leader has taken a page from Trump’sbook to deliver an epic warning. On Thursday morning, Israel’s defense minister had stern words for Iran, and delivered the message with a line that was both serious and poetic.

“If we get rain, they will get a flood,” Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said regarding Iran.

That admonition came after Iran launched 20 rockets at Israeli territory in the Golan Heights. According to Breitbart News, Israel’s sophisticated “Iron Dome” defense system prevented the Iranian projectiles from reaching their targets.

In response, Israel retaliated with targeted attacks against Iranian-controlled missile sites in Syria. Predictably, liberals criticized Israel’s counter-strike, but Lieberman made it clear that the American ally would defend itself.

“We will not allow Iran to transform Syria into forward base against Israel,” he said.

That region is one of the most volatile in the world, and may be at a key turning point. Syria has become a chaotic battleground, with the United States, Russia, Iran, and both government and rebel forces all engaged in power struggles.

Lieberman’s concern about Iran gaining a stronghold and using Syria as a launching point to harass or attack Israel is not unwarranted. Iranian leaders have previously voiced their hatred of the small, democratic nation, with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even saying that Israel would be “wiped off the map.”

Do you believe the U.S. should stand with Israel in the Middle East?

The defense minister, however, also reiterated that Israel recognized a difference between the Iranian government and its people, many of whom want historic change.

“He added that Israel had no grievance against the Iranian people, mentioning specifically the potential of the younger generation,” Breitbart reported. “He expressed hope that Iran might one day enjoy different relations with the other countries in the region.”

“Israel would not, he said, intervene in the Syrian civil war, and the only purpose of any attack into Syrian territory would be to protect its own citizens. He looked forward to the day when Iran would no longer seek Israel’s destruction,” the news outlet continued.

If there’s one takeaway from Lieberman and Trump’s recent actions, it’s likely this: There’s a new sheriff in town.

For eight years under Barack Obama, nations such as Iran and Syria discovered that they could get away with almost anything. The president’s “red lines” meant nothing, and Obama seemed hesitant to confidently stand with Israel.

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Meanwhile, when the beginnings of a democratic revolution were stirred in Iran, the 44th president shied away from supporting the pro-freedom voices and essentially watched as the oppressive regime squashed them.

Trump, along with Israeli leaders like Netanyahu and Lieberman, do not seem to be playing that weak game. Instead, they are making it clear that America’s close ally Israel will be defended, and attempts by rogue nations to attack it will be met with an even greater response.

The United States is standing up for its friends once again.

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Benjamin Arie is an independent journalist and writer. He has personally covered everything ranging from local crime to the U.S. president as a reporter in Michigan before focusing on national politics. Ben frequently travels to Latin America and has spent years living in Mexico.




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