Netanyahu says strength is Israel's sole guarantee

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that economic and military strengths are Israel's sole guarantee for peace and security following the latest developments in Iran and Syria.   

"We heard Iran's leader about the destruction of Israel, we saw the Syrian army slaughtering its people, we saw other bloodshed in our region and some leaders do not have moral inhibitions to kill their neighbors as well as their own people. In such a region, the only thing that ensures our existence, our security and prosperity is our strength," he said.     

"We shall continue to build the military, economic and social strength of Israel; that is the only guarantee for peace and also Israel's only defense if peace collapses," added the Israeli premier.   

Netanyahu was referring to a speech on Friday by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and to the reported mass killing of civilians by Syrian troops.    

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged Friday to aid any nation or group that challenges Israel and said military strikes over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program would damage U.S. interests in the Middle East "10 times over."    

Iran will help any nation or group that confronts the "cancer" Israel, Khamenei added.    

"From now on, in any place, if any nation or any group confronts the Zionist regime, we will endorse and we will help. We have no fear expressing this," said Khamenei.