Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released an unusual direct message to the Lebanese people Wednesday evening, calling on citizens to break free from Hezbollah and Iranian influence over Lebanon. The prime minister also called for peace between the two nations. “I have a message for you, the people of Lebanon, Israel is not at war with you. We’re at war with Hezbollah that has taken your country hostage, that does Iran’s bidding, that uses your territory to launch terrorist attacks against Israel,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister then addressed Lebanon’s situation in recent years. “Do you remember what Lebanon looked like before Iran and Hezbollah turned it into a nightmare? Remember the cafes? Remember the culture? Remember the calm? All of that’s gone because Hezbollah and Iran want to drag us into war over and over and over again. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. You already know that Israel will do whatever is necessary to protect our families and our communities.”
Netanyahu claimed Hezbollah has suffered severe damage during the fighting. “Hezbollah is weaker than ever. Israel is stronger than ever. We’ve taken out nearly 10,000 Hezbollah terrorists so far. We are systematically clearing out South Lebanon of these fanatics. No matter where they are—we’ll find them.”
The prime minister then presented a vision for the future of Israeli-Lebanese relations, emphasizing that in his view, the only obstacle to peace is Hezbollah. “You also know that we yearn for peace with you, with Lebanon. A peace where our two peoples can invest together, build together, thrive together. The onlyimpediment, the only obstacle to this beautiful vision, is Hezbollah. They want war, not peace. They want death, not life. They are willing to sacrifice as many of you as possible to achieve their sick aims. Don’t let your future be dictated by medieval theocrats determined to destroy our common civilization.”
Netanyahu closed with a direct appeal to Lebanese citizens: “Israel wants peace with you. Seize your future. Join Israel. Build safety and prosperity for all of our children. And once Hezbollah is dismantled, the possibilities are endless, and they are sky high.”