Recent days have placed the Middle East on the brink of an unprecedented geopolitical upheaval. The critical security discussion Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held yesterday in the cabinet, which dealt with the alarming possibility of Syrian forces—in the form of al-Julani’s organizations—entering Lebanon, demands that we look reality in the eye.
Behind these scenarios stands the changing dynamic of the American administration, led by President Trump’s repeated statements. Trump, out of deep appreciation for his friendship with Erdoğan and a desire to accommodate Turkish needs, is sketching a roadmap that could lead Syrian forces to fight Hezbollah on Lebanese soil.
On its face, this might look like a “gift” to Israeli interests—weakening Hezbollah at the hands of external forces. But make no mistake: the Middle East has no free gifts, especially not when Erdoğan and al-Julani are involved.
Netanyahu’s Israel and the current cabinet are sending a clear message, and perhaps it’s time Washington internalized it: We deeply appreciate President Trump, the unwavering support, and the strategic partnership. At the same time, there are red lines Israel cannot cross.
The cabinet made clear yesterday, and rightly so: Israel will not allow a reality in which a “Daesh-like,” murderous and dangerous actor replaces Hezbollah on its border. We are not fighting this war to swap one threat for another radical threat. The entry of al-Julani’s forces into Lebanon is an event that could ignite the entire region and bring the threat to our doorstep in a way we won’t be prepared for.
Israel has made clear—and must make clear again to all concerned—that any such intervention from Damascus, with Turkish encouragement, would constitute crossing a red line that Israel will not pass over in silence. We’ve already known how to signal to the Assad regime in the past, and the lesson remained when it mattered: anyone trying to play with fire on our borders needs to know that his palace in Damascus is not immune.
The IDF is proving in this war that it doesn’t give up. The total deployment on the ground and the determination to remain in Lebanon as long as necessary until the Hezbollah threat is removed are the only guarantees for our security. We cannot allow external moves, the grandiose pretensions of regional leaders like Erdoğan, or political “gifts” between superpowers to dictate our security reality.
The Middle East is too dangerous a place for experiments. Israel needs to continue leading an independent, clear, and courageous line: Israel will solve the Lebanon problem itself. We don’t need radical “saviors” to sit on our fence. We’ve kept the Hermon crown and will keep it, and we’ll also defend the entire northern border with our own hands. This is not just a state obligation—it’s an existential commitment to Israel’s security.
This column was written based on remarks made by our political commentator Yaakov Bardugo on “Israel This Morning” with Tal Meir.
