(Ariel Kahana/Israel Hayom via JNS) Five days out from Israel’s third general election in under 12 months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was optimistic as he addressed a conference of regional council leaders.

“We are only two seats away from establishing a strong right-wing government and preventing a fourth election,” said Netanyahu. “Otherwise, we’ll get a government under Gantz that is dependent on Ahmad Tibi and the Joint Arab List. A government like that would endanger Israel’s security.”

Netanyahu also addressed the recent two-day spike in violence between Israel and the terrorist factions in the Gaza Strip.

“The last decade has seen the fewest military [personnel] and civilians wounded. That’s not a coincidence. It stems from an aggressive policy. A wise policy of using force responsibly,” said Netanyahu.

However, he added, there may now be no choice but to launch a military operation in Gaza.

“It might be that there is no alternative to a wide-scale military operation. We are preparing it differently from what we have done thus far. I am not in a hurry to launch an operation that will lead to a war,” he said.