Turin, 16 September (LaPresse) – "I am not unaware of attempts to impose economic restrictions on us; we are aware of them. It is possible that such attempts are being made. But the world wants the products that Israel produces.‘ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made this statement at a press conference the day after sparking controversy by saying that Israel is facing growing isolation on the international stage because of the war in Gaza and that, in the coming years, it will have to transform itself into a sort of more self-sufficient ’super-Sparta." The prime minister argued that the negative reaction of the markets was a ‘misunderstanding’ and admitted that there are efforts to isolate Israel, but said that he had clarified that his comments yesterday referred to the defence sector and not to the economy in general. ‘There is one sector I was referring to where there really could be restrictions — not economic, but essentially political in nature, and that is the defence industry,’ he explained. ‘Our defence industries are growing. They have achieved extraordinary results in exports, both in quantity and quality, but it is precisely there that we have encountered — and may encounter again — political restrictions during the war,’ he continued. "And if there is one lesson we have learned from this war, it is that we want to be in a situation where we are not limited, where Israel defends itself with its own forces and its own weapons. And that is why we want to achieve independence in security matters.
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