Herzog Says Israel Seeks Diplomatic Deal in Lebanon, Without Iranian Role

President Isaac Herzog told Fox News on Sunday that Israel does not oppose a diplomatic outcome in Lebanon, but insists its security concerns must be addressed. He said any peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon cannot succeed if Iran remains heavily involved through Hezbollah, adding, “Iran should not be involved at all in the crisis in Lebanon.”

Herzog also stressed the close relationship with the United States. He said the two countries maintain “a very close, open and trustworthy dialogue at all levels,” and noted that disagreements are legitimate because Israel is on the front line of the war. “We are the ones taking Iranian missiles and those of its proxies,” he said, adding that Israel and the U.S. are working together to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capability or becoming a threshold nuclear state.

Turning to Lebanon, Herzog said he recently visited the northern border and addressed both the Lebanese public and leadership in Arabic. “Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon,” he said. “We have no substantive disputes with Lebanon. We want peace, and my dream is to take a car and drive all the way to Beirut.”

He argued that Hezbollah is blocking that prospect by undermining regional stability, violating the ceasefire repeatedly, and acting as an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that is armed “from head to toe.” Herzog said Israel’s soldiers are the ones forced to do the work on the ground, unless diplomacy can produce a solution that disarms Hezbollah and removes its ability to block peace.