Netanyahu to the Lebanese People: “Israel Wants Peace With You”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an unusual direct message to the people of Lebanon this evening, Wednesday, in which he addressed the country’s citizens and called on them to break with Hezbollah and with Iran’s influence over Lebanon. He also called for peace between the two countries.

“I have a message for you, the citizens of Lebanon. Israel is not at war with you. We are at war with Hezbollah, which has taken your country hostage, operates on behalf of Iran and uses your territory to launch terror attacks against Israel,” Netanyahu said in a video also translated into Arabic.

He then referred to Lebanon’s situation in recent years and said: “Do you remember what Lebanon looked like before Iran and Hezbollah turned it into a nightmare? Do you remember the cafes? Do you remember the culture? Do you remember the quiet? All of that is gone because Hezbollah and Iran want to drag us into war again and again and again. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. You already know that Israel will do whatever is necessary to defend our families and our communities.”

Netanyahu claimed that Hezbollah has suffered a severe blow during the fighting. “Hezbollah is weaker today than it has ever been. Israel is stronger today than it has ever been. So far we have eliminated nearly 10,000 Hezbollah terrorists. We are working systematically to clear southern Lebanon of these extremists. No matter where they are, we will find them.”

He then presented a vision for the future of relations between Israel and Lebanon and stressed that, in his view, the only obstacle to peace is Hezbollah. “You also know that we yearn for peace with you, with Lebanon. A peace in which our two peoples can invest together, build together and prosper together. The only obstacle, the only barrier to this beautiful vision, is Hezbollah. They want war, not peace. They want death, not life. They are willing to sacrifice as many of you as possible to achieve their twisted goals. Do not let your future be dictated by extremist theocrats determined to destroy our shared civilization.”

Netanyahu concluded with a direct appeal to the citizens of Lebanon: “Israel wants peace with you. Take your future into your hands. Join Israel. Build security and prosperity for all our children. And when Hezbollah is disarmed, the possibilities will be limitless. The sky is the limit.”