Smotrich: If Hezbollah doesn’t withdraw from border, IDF must take over southern Lebanon

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Maariv economic conference in Tel Aviv, March 26, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks at the Maariv economic conference in Tel Aviv, March 26, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for Israel to issue an ultimatum to Hezbollah and says that if the terror group does not stop attacking Israel and pull its fighters back from the border, a ground operation should be launched to establish a military takeover in southern Lebanon.

At a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism party held in the north, Smotrich demands Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make a clear announcement on a plan to deal with Hezbollah, saying that if necessary, there must be military action on the matter.

“A public ultimatum must be issued to Hezbollah that they completely stop firing and withdraw all forces to beyond the Litani River,” says Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry.

“If the ultimatum is not fully met, the IDF will launch an assault deep in Lebanese territory to defend the northern communities, including ground entry and Israeli military takeover of the southern Lebanese area,” he says, promoting a plan reminiscent of Israel’s security zone in south Lebanon in the years following the First Lebanon War.

“The way to bring the [evacuated] residents home in the north is through a military decision with a devastating assault on Hezbollah, its infrastructure and the destruction of its power,” he says.

Israel has threatened to go to war to force Hezbollah away from the border if the terror group does not retreat and continues to threaten northern communities, from where some 70,000 people have been evacuated to avoid the fighting.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war against Hamas there.

Smotrich also says Netanyahu must state that there will be a permanent Israeli military presence in the Gaza Strip, including at Rafah Border Crossing and in the city of Rafah to prevent smuggling from Egypt.

The minister says he is making the demands in light of the ultimatum and deadline issued by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz yesterday.

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