Following comments from the IDF chief of staff yesterday saying that Lebanon will be responsible for the next conflict with Hezbollah, Bennett tells his weekly faction meeting that Israel sees the two as one entity.
“Since 2006 we have made a differentiation between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. No more, I say from now that Israel’s policy is ‘Lebanon is Hezbollah and Hezbollah is Lebanon,” the education minister says.
“Therefore, from now on, any fire, rockets from Lebanon should be considered a direct attack by Lebanon on Israel,” he says, adding that doing so will prevent a future war not cause one.
Israeli soldiers take part in a military training in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, near the Israel-Syria border on March 20, 2017. (AFP/JALAA MAREY)
Hezbollah, a member of Lebanon’s government, is a powerful political and militant force in the country. Leaders in Beirut have backed arming the group, despite a UN resolution that calls for the terror group to be demilitarized as part of a 2006 ceasefire with Israel.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot warned Beirut Sunday that the army would continue to thwart terror group Hezbollah and said any future war with the Shiite group would take place on Lebanese territory, as tensions rose over airstrikes against the group in Syria.
On Friday, Israeli planes struck deep inside Lebanon to thwart an arms transfer to the terror group. On Sunday, another IDF strike was reported in the Syrian Golan against a fighter for a pro-regime militia with links to Hezbollah.
— Raoul Wootliff
Bridging the US-Israel divide
While the heart of The Times of Israel’s work takes place in Israel, so many of Jerusalem’s actions are influenced by those in Washington’s halls of power.
As ToI’s US bureau chief, I work to gain access to decision-makers in the United States government so our readers can understand the US-Israel relationship beyond the platitudes evident in public statements.
I'm proud of our ability to inform without sensationalizing, our dedication to be fast while ensuring accuracy, and our determination to present Israel's entire, complex story.
Your support through The Times of Israel Community helps us continue to keep readers around the world properly informed about the critical Israel-US relationship. Do you appreciate our news coverage? If so, please join the ToI Community today.
- Jacob Magid, The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Yes, I'll join
Yes, I'll join
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this