Herzog at the Lebanon border: “Expel Hezbollah and Iran from among you”

During a visit to Moshav Netua on the Lebanon border, President Herzog met with farmers and business owners, emphasized the resilience of northern residents, and called for giving border communities national priority in employment, agriculture, and tourism. State President speaking in Arabic to the President of Lebanon. Credit: Gregory Badu, recording: Gideon Arnold.

President Isaac Herzog paid a visit to northern Israel today (Wednesday) amid the security situation. During the tour, the president arrived at Moshav Netua on the border, met with tourism operators, dairy farmers, farmers, and local business owners, and heard from them about the challenges and daily coping on the ground, while those present showed him local agricultural produce they grow in the area.

“I am here, on the Lebanon border, in Moshav Netua and throughout the entire area,” President Herzog said during the visit. “This area is under constant attack and is showing extraordinary resilience. There are amazing people here, and Israel owes them top national priority in order to enable full and complete lives, while we are fighting and conducting a broader campaign that concerns the entire region.”

The president stressed the need to strengthen civilian and economic infrastructure in border communities and said that the Iranians are trying to make the area part of the organs within the campaign, and Israel will not allow them to do so. According to him, they must not be allowed to harm the residents of the north, who need to receive top priority in all areas, especially in the pillars of industry, employment, tourism, and agriculture, in order to allow everyone to continue living in the area and raise many more generations of proud Israeli citizens on the border until quiet returns.

Later in his remarks, the president delivered a direct message to the President of Lebanon following comments he made on CNN, and addressed the government and people of Lebanon in Arabic, calling on them to drive away the elements of terror. “I extend a hand for peace to the President of Lebanon and to the Lebanese people, but your duty is to ensure Lebanon’s freedom from the dictates of Hezbollah, Iran, and terrorist organizations, so that it preserves its status as a sovereign and independent state,” Herzog said.

The president concluded his address with a call on the residents of the neighboring country to act actively against the influence of Tehran and Hezbollah. Herzog told them, “Expel Hezbollah and Iran from among you. I extend a hand for peace, Israel does not seek war, it depends only on you, do not yield to Tehran’s dictates. There is no greater dream than for Israelis to be able to get into a car and reach Beirut, it depends only on you. Expel Hezbollah from among you, remove Iran and its proxies. Do not be afraid, say it and do it. Israel does not seek wars and wants peace with Lebanon, it depends on you.”