Israeli Top-Politician Warning Europe on Open Borders

Note: V24 presents an in-depth series covering the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This comprehensive series features on-the-ground interviews, bringing firsthand insights from a diverse range of voices, including politicians, professors, journalists, experts and influencers. Our guest today: Amir Ohana.

Who is Amir Ohana?

Amir Ohana, Israel's Speaker of the Knesset and one of the country's top politicians, shared a tough message for Western nations during an exclusive interview with Visegrad24 in Jerusalem. The Israeli leader warned Europe to take security threats seriously.

Who is Ohana? Born in Beersheba to Maghrebi Jewish immigrants, Ohana served in the IDF and later worked with Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer and became a Member of the Knesset in 2015. In 2022, he became Israel's Speaker of the Knesset, the highest-ranking official in Israel's legislature. In terms of hierarchy, the Speaker holds the third position in the Israeli government, after the President and the Prime Minister.

A Wake-Up Call for Europe

Ohana stated that Western nations, especially in Europe, must take their adversaries at their word when they declare their intent to destroy them. “Listen to your enemies,” he said, stressing that Israel had made the mistake of not fully anticipating the scale of the October 7th Hamas-led attack on Israel. “We knew Hamas was a terror organization devoted to killing Israel, but we didn’t prepare ourselves for such mass murder,” he admitted.

The Speaker explained that the rise of radical Islam, spearheaded by groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Regime in Iran, presents an existential threat not only to Israel but to the entire free world. He pointed to the ideology of Iran's Ayatollah regime, which sees Israel as the "small Satan" and the United States (and the West) as the "big Satan."

Reflecting on the broader geopolitical context, Ohana invoked the theory of the "Clash of Civilizations" by Samuel Huntington, explaining that the radical Shiite forces of Iran are attempting to impose their vision of the world on others through violence. “We need to believe our enemies when they say they are after us” he warned whilst highlighting the role of woke organizations and progressives acting as "useful idiots" weakening society's "immune system" against external threats.

The Iranian Threat

In response to questions about the Iranian regime's growing influence, Ohana highlighted that Iran’s regional aggression, through proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, is not limited to Israel. The threat extends to "moderate Arab countries" and the "Sunni world" as well, he said, referencing the progress made in the Abraham Accords, a historic peace agreement Israel signed with four Arab countries.

Despite Iran's attempts to sabotage these peace efforts, Ohana believes that the region is moving toward a more peaceful future. “We need to rebuild our deterrence, which was severely harmed on October 7th,” he said, emphasizing Israel’s resolve to restore security and peace in the region. He also made it clear that Israel would not stop until all hostages held by Hamas are returned and safety is restored to the country.

The Rise of Radical Movements in the West

One of the most troubling developments, according to Ohana, is the growing strength of radical movements in the West. He spoke of the “Red-Green Alliance,” a coalition between left-wing radicals and Islamists, which he believes is fueling anti-Israel sentiment. Ohana argued that these movements portray Israel as the “Goliath” in the Middle East, despite the fact that Israel is a small, outnumbered nation surrounded by hostile neighbors.

The Speaker expressed concern over the naïveté of some in the West who fail to understand the true nature of the threat posed by radical Islam. He pointed out that many Western university students and activists who support Palestinian causes are unaware of the broader implications of radical ideologies. “They romanticize the idea of a peaceful Palestine,” he said, “but they do not realize that under radical Islamic rule, freedoms are crushed, women cannot drive, gays are hanged, and there is no freedom of expression.”

The Conquest of Europe

Ohana addressed the impact of mass migration from Muslim-majority countries to Europe. He noted that small numbers of migrants might seek to assimilate, but large numbers could change the cultural and social fabric of their host countries. “When we talk about large numbers, they seek to dominate,” he cautioned." "Mohammad Gaddafi said we shall conquer Europe without a single shot", Ohana reminded the West.

In his view, European countries need to recognize the risks posed by unchecked migration and the cultural tensions it may bring. “A country should be able to control its borders and moderate the number of migrants coming in,” he argued. "Europe has known its fair share of terror attacks throughout the years" but "not in such a magnitude, not in such a fashion" as Israel has on October 7th. Ohana urges the West to be aware and to prepare.

A Call to Action

Despite the grim reality of the threats facing Israel and the West, Ohana remains hopeful. He believes that the lessons learned from Israel's experiences with terrorism and war can help the West prepare for its own security challenges. “We are fighting not only for Israel, but for the free world,” he concluded, hoping for stronger alliances between Israel and Western countries to confront common threats.

As Israel continues to grapple with the aftermath of October 7th and the ongoing conflict with Hamas, the Speaker's message remains clear. Europe and the West must not only listen to their enemies, but they must prepare for a future that may be more dangerous than many realize.

Alexandra Audrey Tompson

Editor-in-Chief | Lawyer (Admitted in New York; England & Wales)