BUDAPEST, Hungary – As the mid-scale conflict between Iran and Israel continues to unfold, raising global questions and concerns, Her Excellency Maya Kadosh, the Ambassador of Israel to Hungary, has offered a candid and insightful perspective into the Jewish state’s strategy, preparedness, and vision for the future. In an exclusive interview with Tamási Maráczi of the Hungarian Conservative, Ambassador Kadosh, an experienced diplomat with over two decades at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided clarity on a conflict that she unequivocally calls “a historical moment for Israel.”
Navigating a Historic Moment with US Intervention
For years, Israel has lived under the palpable threat of a nuclear Iran, a nation not only pursuing atomic ambitions but actively sponsoring terror attacks across the region and against Israeli embassies globally. Ambassador Kadosh starkly reminded, “What we saw on 7 October was planned and sponsored by Iran,” highlighting the profound historical context of the current hostilities. The recent intervention by the United States, utilizing B-2 bombers to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, is viewed by Israel as a pivotal and positive development. “The fact that the Americans intervened and dismantled the nuclear programme is huge,” she emphasized, a strategic move aimed at neutralizing a formidable and existential threat.
Resilience Amidst the Storm: A Nation Prepared
Despite Iran’s threats of a “decisive response,” Israel remains highly prepared. Ambassador Kadosh explained that the initial phase of the war focused on diminishing Iran’s capabilities to inflict harm, successfully targeting rocket factories and launching sites. While acknowledging the “heavy price” paid by the Israeli Home Front, she affirmed the profound resilience of the Israeli people, who are “willing to pay this price to ensure that their children can live in the country for the long term.”
Challenging notions of societal fatigue or miscalculations, Ambassador Kadosh asserted that the current scenario is unfolding “according to plan,” with Iranian capabilities having diminished significantly. She addressed criticisms regarding the Iron Dome’s performance, explaining that even a 97% success rate can still result in missiles impacting population centers when hundreds are launched. She firmly reiterated that Iran is a “terrorist state” that deliberately targets civilian areas, underscoring the tragic necessity of Israel’s defensive actions.
Setting the Record Straight: Addressing Complex Criticisms
Ambassador Kadosh meticulously addressed serious international criticisms concerning Israel’s actions, including claims of aggression, war crimes, civilian casualties, and land policies. Regarding the casus belli and the nature of Iran’s nuclear program, she clarified that the intelligence on Iran’s non-peaceful nuclear enrichment (up to 60%) originated from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is shared by European and American intelligence, not solely Israeli. “There’s no need to enrich to 60 per cent, and this was decided by the agency itself and by the international community,” she stated, dismissing claims of a purely peaceful program.
On the difficult issue of civilian casualties in Gaza, Ambassador Kadosh challenged figures from the Palestinian side, asserting their proven inaccuracy. She emphasized that the Israeli army operates under the severe challenge of Hamas embedding its military infrastructure within civilian areas, including schools and hospitals. “Hamas uses tunnels to keep themselves safe while putting all the women and children, their own people, at risk,” she said. Pertaining to humanitarian aid, she highlighted that Hamas frequently steals aid trucks, and lauded the effectiveness of the American-Israeli mechanism in delivering millions of meals directly to Palestinians, urging international organizations to prioritize direct aid delivery over political considerations.
Addressing land policies and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ambassador Kadosh pointed to the “Witkoff plan” as the only viable diplomatic framework on the table, calling for a cease-fire, return of land, and release of hostages. She lamented Hamas’s repeated refusal to agree, underscoring that Hamas could end the war “in an hour” by releasing hostages and laying down weapons, thereby preventing harm to their own people.
A Vision for a New Middle East: Hope for Cooperation
Despite the ongoing conflict, Ambassador Kadosh expressed profound optimism for the future of the region. She confirmed that Israel’s war aims are precisely defined: to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile program, with no intention of interfering in Iran’s governance or pursuing regime change.
She envisioned a “completely new scenario” in the Middle East, fueled by the long tradition of good relations between the Iranian and Israeli peoples, and the increasing desire for freedom among the Iranian populace. This renewed regional stability, she suggested, could lead to significant benefits, including optimized energy prices and enhanced connectivity between the Middle East and Europe. “I personally believe we are going to face a completely new scenario,” she concluded, echoing hopes for an expansion of the Abraham Accords with more Arab states, as countries facing Iranian threats naturally draw closer to Israel. The Ambassador confidently dismissed the notion of Israel becoming an “enemy of everybody,” asserting that regional nations, many of whom are already in conflict with Iran, welcome Israel’s actions against the Iranian regime.
Ambassador Kadosh’s insights paint a picture of a nation resolute in its defense, pragmatic in its military objectives, and hopeful for a future Middle East reshaped by shared security and renewed cooperation.
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