Israel is at war with Hezbollah, and not with the people of Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu said in a video message shared on his official X/Twitter on Wednesday evening.
The Hezbollah terror organization has "taken your country hostage, does Iran's bidding, [and] uses your territory to launch terrorist attacks against Israel," Netanyahu said.
“Do you remember what Lebanon was like before Iran and Hezbollah turned it into a nightmare? Remember the cafés? Remember the culture? Remember the calm? All that’s gone because Hezbollah and Iran want to drag us into war over and over and over again,” he continued.
“You deserve better. Your children deserve better. You know by now that Israel will do whatever it takes to protect our families, our communities,” he added.
“Hezbollah is weaker than ever. Israel is stronger than ever. We’ve taken out nearly 10,000 Hezbollah terrorists so far. We’re systematically clearing out South Lebanon of these fanatics. No matter where they are, we’ll find them,” he stated.
“You also know we yearn for peace with you, with Lebanon. A peace where our two peoples can invest together, build together, thrive together,” he said.
Hezbollah is 'only obstacle' to peace, Netanyahu says
“The only impediment, the only obstacle to this beautiful vision is Hezbollah. They want war, not peace. They want death, not life. They will sacrifice as many of you as possible to achieve their sick aims. Don’t let your future be dictated by medieval theocrats hellbent on destroying our common civilization,” Netanyahu added.
“Israel wants peace with you. Seize your future. Join Israel. Build safety and prosperity for all of our children. And once Hezbollah is dismantled, the possibilities are endless. And they are sky high,” he concluded.