"Nations that didn't act in time against murderous aggression against them paid a much higher price later on," said Netanyahu, who often invokes European powers' 1938 agreement to let Nazi Germany annex portions of Czechoslovakia. "We don't seek escalation, but are prepared for any scenario."

Frictions between Israel and Iran have escalated in the runup to President Donald Trump's decision this month whether to quit the Iran nuclear deal, and Netanyahu's comments reinforced concerns that the two Middle East powers might clash directly in Syria, Iran's client. Other Israeli officials have suggested that a withdrawal from the accord and renewed U.S. sanctions could either bring Iran back to the negotiating table with a weaker hand, or even lead to regime change.