Bereaved Father Calls to Ban Any International Force Near Israel's Border

Izik Pitousi, a bereaved father and board member of the Gvura Forum, said on Thursday that Israel should not allow any international force to operate near the northern border, amid reports and testimony that UNIFIL soldiers have helped Hezbollah and Radwan Force operatives. Pitousi is the father of Yishai, who was killed, and he argued that Israel alone must be responsible for its own security.

In his remarks, Pitousi said that over recent weeks, more and more evidence has surfaced that UN peacekeepers are assisting Hezbollah and Radwan fighters and passing them information that endangers Israeli troops defending the northern frontier. He said bereaved families demand that “no international force” be allowed in the “yellow area,” and certainly not on Israel’s border.

“The State of Israel is solely responsible for its security,” he said, adding that it must protect both its soldiers and its civilians. He concluded, “Let the IDF win and defend.”

The comments follow a letter sent earlier this week by the Gvura Forum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In that letter, the families said responsibility for clearing terror from the area must not be removed from the Lebanese government. They also said that while they respect U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel’s security should not become a bargaining chip in negotiations with Iran, and that Israel must make decisions only according to its own national security interests.