National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Monday on the Kan News radio program “This Morning” that “all of Lebanon should burn” and that the country should become “the playground of the State of Israel.” He argued that any house connected to terror should be attacked and said that if militants hide among civilians, his priority is protecting Israeli soldiers. He added that even with fewer troops, Israel could still achieve results if Lebanon were treated as its “playground.”
Ben Gvir said he would give Israel full freedom of action throughout Lebanon, including Beirut and the Dahiyeh district, the Hezbollah stronghold in the capital’s southern suburbs.
He also addressed the reported tension between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. Referring to the talks in Switzerland, Ben Gvir said Trump is “a true friend” who should be treated politely and embraced, but insisted Israel must tell him it cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon.