Israeli Ambassador Avivit Bar-Ilan tells Telegraf.rs: We have no interest in endless war, goal is clear

Israel's ambassador to Serbia, Avivit Bar-Ilan, told iTelegraf.rs in an interview that over the past 24 hours, Israel has been facing intense missile attacks from Iran and Lebanon aimed at civilian areas, while a special state of emergency has been declared in the country. The ambassador spoke about the personal drama her family in Israel is going through, but also about the resilience of the Israeli society, which functions under the constant threat of attacks.

Avivit Bar-Ilan also told Telegraf.rs about the goals of the Israeli operation against the Iranian regime, the possibilities to deescalate the conflict, and the situation regarding Serbian citizens in Israel.

Recommended

What has the situation been like in Israel over the last 24 hours? Are you in touch with your family? Have there been any new strong strokes in the area they are in?

The past 24 hours have been intense. Israel continues to face missile strikes from Iran and Lebanon directed at civilian areas. Our defense systems intercept most incoming threats, but unfortunately, some of the missiles have hit populated civilian areas.

The government has declared a special state of emergency on the domestic front, when all regions function according to the "only the necessary activities" principle, the guidelines prohibit educational activities (face-to-face). Due to the security situation, Israel's airspace remains closed to air traffic.

My husband and our three children are in Israel. Like millions of Israelis, they rush to shelters multiple times every day. A missile struck very close to the area where they live. So yes, I follow every alert on the home front command app on my phone, every siren, every update. As a mother, it is natural to worry.

But there is something else - resilience. Israeli society has unfortunately had to develop a strong culture of preparedness and solidarity. People support each other, communities immediately mobilize to evacuate and clean up badly affected buildings, and life goes on under emergency procedures.

No country chooses this reality. But when faced with a regime that deliberately targets civilians with long-range missiles, resilience becomes part of the national strength.

Do you have information about how many Serbian citizens are still in Israel and whether they have expressed a desire to leave?

We are constantly coordinating with the Serbian authorities regarding Serbian citizens in Israel. As far as I know, all Serbian citizens who wanted to leave Israel have already done so.

As in any security situation, some foreign nationals choose to stay, while others prefer to temporarily leave. Israel is working responsibly to ensure that all necessary channels of information and coordination remain open. We greatly appreciate our close communication with the Serbian government in this regard.

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran's air and naval forces have been destroyed. Does this mean that Israel will soon be able to say that the threat has been removed and that the situation will calm down?

The goal of this operation is very clear: to remove the existential threat the terrorist regime in Tehran poses to the State of Israel.

We will act against any attempt by the terrorist regime in Iran to obtain nuclear weapons - weapons that would pose a threat not only to Israel and the US, but to the entire free world. Once the regime no longer has the practical ability to advance the military nuclear program or deploy long-range missiles, the situation will stabilize. The alliance and partnership between Israel and the United States, which plays a central role in this effort, are stronger than ever. It is built on shared values ​​and an uncompromising pursuit of security and peace for both nations and the free world.

What is the measurable criteria by which you will consider the "threat removed"?

When the regime is no longer able to threaten Israel and the region - with nuclear blackmail or indiscriminate rocket fire - the existential threat will be considered neutralized. It is very important to emphasize - this operation is directed against the terrorist regime in Tehran, not against the Iranian people, who strive for freedom and dignity in difficult circumstances.

Negotiations were being conducted before the escalation. What was the "red line" after which negotiations were no longer an option? Is there still a diplomatic channel that could lead to a ceasefire in the short term?

The Iranian regime did not hesitate to continue advancing and strengthening its military nuclear infrastructure deep underground, accelerating the production of ballistic missiles in parallel with continuing diplomatic negotiations. The regime was willing to hide these underground facilities while engaging in empty negotiations to buy more time in order to achieve its goal.

During the operation, the Israel Defense Forces destroyed a secret complex, which was partially underground, that was engaged in developing a key component for Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons. Despite the severe damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear program during Operation Rising Lion (an operation launched by Israeli forces against Iran in June 2025, ed.), the regime did not stop its military nuclear activity and continued to develop the necessary capabilities, while transferring infrastructure to the underground Min Zadai site, which was protected from attack.

Negotiations cannot succeed if one side uses them to gain time while at the same time strengthening its military capabilities.

In addition, Israel has no interest in an endless war. If the threat is indeed removed and hostile actions cease, deescalation is always possible. Responsible diplomacy requires seriousness and verifiable commitments.

Your forces also launched a major operation in Lebanon. What is the situation there? Are there any indications that Hezbollah will be definitively destroyed?

The terrorist organization Hezbollah decided to enter the war and attack Israel, and they will pay a high price for it. We will not allow Hezbollah to threaten the State of Israel or harm its citizens. The State of Israel is well prepared against the terrorist organization Hezbollah, both defensively and offensively.

The terrorist organization Hezbollah has shown once again that it chooses the Iranian terrorist regime over the people of Lebanon, sacrificing the state of Lebanon for the sake of foreign interests. We warned Lebanon and Hezbollah about the cost of the terrorist organization's cooperation with the regime in Tehran and of attacks on Israel. Hezbollah operates from within the civilian population and uses the Lebanese population as a human shield.