Netanyahu To Lebanon: Israel Wants Peace, Hezbollah Wants War

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a direct English-language message to the people of Lebanon, saying Israel seeks peace with them, not war.

His remarks came against the backdrop of negotiations with the Lebanese government. Instead of framing the conflict as a war with Lebanon, Netanyahu made clear that Israel is fighting Hezbollah.

“I have a message for you, the people of Lebanon. Israel is not at war with you,” Netanyahu said. “We are at war with Hezbollah, which has taken your country hostage, which does Iran’s bidding, which uses your territory to carry out terror attacks against Israel.”

Hezbollah And Iran

Netanyahu then appealed to Lebanese memory. He asked what the country 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?” he asked. “All of that disappeared because Hezbollah and Iran want to drag us into war again and again and again.”

He told Lebanese citizens that they and their children “deserve better.” At the same time, he stressed that Israel will defend its families and communities.

According to Netanyahu, Hezbollah is “weaker than ever,” while Israel is “stronger than ever.” He also said Israel has eliminated nearly 10,000 Hezbollah terrorists so far.

In addition, he said Israel is systematically clearing southern Lebanon of Hezbollah fighters.

“No matter where they are, we will find them,” he said.

A Future Beyond War

Netanyahu also offered a vision of peace between Israelis and Lebanese citizens. He said the two peoples could “invest together, build together, prosper together.”

However, he named Hezbollah as the only obstacle to that future.

“They want war, not peace. They want death, not life,” Netanyahu said. He warned that Hezbollah would sacrifice Lebanese lives to achieve its goals.

Ultimately, Netanyahu called on Lebanese citizens to seize their future and reject Hezbollah’s control.

“Israel wants peace with you,” he said. “And once Hezbollah is dismantled, the possibilities are endless. They are sky-high.”

For Israel, the message was both strategic and moral. Peace remains possible, but not while an Iranian-backed terror army holds Lebanon hostage.