![Israel must continue to be able to deter Hezbollah, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stressed on Wednesday, speaking amid efforts to reach a ceasefire with Iran's Lebanese terrorist proxy. "We need to keep the freedom to act if there will be violations. And we will have to act in time, before the problem will grow," the minister told a gathering of nearly 100 foreign ambassadors in Jerusalem, the Times of Israel reported. A deal to end more than a year of fighting on the northern border must be durable, Sa'ar said, saying Jerusalem “would like to reach an agreement that will stand the test of time." He added that a ceasefire would be an "opportunity" for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty after the Israeli military severely degraded the Iranian-backed group in recent months. He called for the Lebanese Armed Forces to be strengthened and urged the international community to invest more in the economically devastated country, which is drowning in debt following years of mismanagement and corruption. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also emphasized on Wednesday the necessity for Jerusalem to be able to act against any Hezbollah threats that may arise after a ceasefire deal is implemented. “The condition for any political settlement in Lebanon is the preservation of the intelligence capability and the preservation of the [IDF’s] right to act and protect the citizens of Israel from Hezbollah,” Katz said. Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein remained in Beirut for a second day on Wednesday to discuss "technical details" of an American ceasefire proposal with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who heads the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement. President Joe Biden's point man in the Land of the Cedars announced he would travel to Israel on Wednesday night, speaking after he made "additional progress" in a second meeting with Berri. Hochstein was scheduled to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer shortly after his arrival, followed by a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day. “The meeting today built on the meeting yesterday, and made additional progress,” Hochstein said. “So I will travel from here in a couple hours to Israel to try to bring this to a close if we can.” The Biden envoy added that he will work with the incoming Trump administration on ceasefire efforts, saying that he has kept the president-elect's transition team informed of progress. Hochstein described as "very productive" his meetings with Lebanese officials on Tuesday. “We have a real opportunity to end the conflict, and now is the moment to decide. We are committed to doing everything we can to work with Lebanon and Israel to end this conflict,” Hochstein said at a press conference on Tuesday. Hochstein also met on Tuesday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and he was scheduled to meet with Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Joseph Aoun. Mikati emphasized that Lebanon’s primary objectives are achieving a ceasefire and safeguarding its sovereignty. He highlighted the need to implement international resolutions and bolster the Lebanese Armed Forces in the southern part of the country. Lebanon delivered its written response to the latest U.S. proposal on Monday. According to Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Berri, the response included “comments” that were “presented in a positive atmosphere.” He did not provide details on the nature of the comments, saying only that they “affirm the precise adherence to [U.N. Security Council] Resolution 1701 with all its provisions,” according to Reuters. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in a speech on Wednesday that the terrorist group had "read the ceasefire proposal. "We have our comments, and Nabih Berri has comments, and ours and the Lebanese government's comments are, Inshallah ['God willing'], identical," Qassem said. "We have decided not to discuss these ceasefire proposals or our comments in the media. All I will say is that Israeli is trying to obtain through negotiations what it couldn't through war." The terrorist leader vowed to “continue our efforts on the ground, whether the negotiations succeed or not. “We are confronting a savage enemy, and we will remain on the ground, no matter the cost, as we will also increase the cost for the enemy. We are facing Israeli human monsters supported by American human monsters,” threatened Qassem. Disarm and retreat Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, stipulated that Hezbollah must disarm and retreat north of the Litani River, but was never enforced. The Litani lies some 20 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border. Its enforcement, along with Israeli freedom of operation in Lebanon should Hezbollah violate the terms of a ceasefire agreement, are the key sticking points in the current negotiations. Netanyahu emphasized during a speech in the Knesset plenum on Monday that Israel will not allow Hezbollah to “return to the state it was in on Oct. 6, 2023. “We will be required, in order to ensure our security in the north, to systematically carry out operations—not only against Hezbollah’s attacks, which could come. Even if there is a ceasefire, nobody can guarantee it will hold. So it’s not only our reaction, a preventive reaction, a reaction in the wake of attack but also the capacity to prevent Hezbollah from strengthening,” he said. Hezbollah has launched some 16,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanon at Israel since joining the war in support of Hamas on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after the Gaza-based terrorist group’s massacre in southern Israel. More than 60,000 residents of northern Israel remain internally displaced due to the ongoing rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon. Seventy-six people in northern Israel have been killed by Hezbollah cross-border rocket, missile and drone attacks since the start of the war, including 31 soldiers and six foreign citizens, according to the latest data provided by the Prime Minister’s Office, updated on Sunday. In addition, 729 people have been wounded, including 497 civilians and 232 soldiers. Of these, 29 civilians and 37 soldiers were severely injured; 63 civilians and 38 soldiers were moderately injured and 405 civilians and 157 soldiers were lightly injured. Hezbollah’s leadership has been left in tatters following a series of targeted killings by Israel, including that of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on Sept. 27. This was preceded by Israeli sabotage of Hezbollah communication devices that killed 39 people and wounded more than 3,400 members of the terrorist group. Israel has been waging a devastating aerial campaign against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, including its stronghold of Dahieh south of Beirut. According to Israeli estimates, the terrorist group has lost most of its arsenal to the ongoing strikes. Then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in late October that Hezbollah had lost an estimated 80%-plus of its long-range rockets since the start of the war. Israel also continues to battle Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The terrorist group still holds 101 hostages in the Strip, 97 of whom were kidnapped on Oct. 7. Many of the captives are believed to be dead. Brazil summit Meanwhile, G20 leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for a summit put out a joint statement on Monday calling for “comprehensive” ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon. The leaders of the world’s biggest economies called for U.S. proposals to end fighting in Gaza and free the hostages, and one for Lebanon “that enables citizens to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.” The 13-point U.S. proposal presented to Lebanese officials on Nov. 14 includes a 60-day truce, during which Lebanon would redeploy its troops along the border. The proposal also calls for Moscow to prevent Hezbollah from resupplying itself via Syrian land routes. Hezbollah would retreat north of the Litani River, with the border area then being under control of the Lebanese Armed Forces, overseen by the United States and Britain. Israeli officials are emphasizing, however, that the Israel Defense Forces must retain freedom of operation in Lebanon to thwart attempts by Hezbollah to violate the agreement and rearm and reestablish itself. A senior Israeli diplomatic official told Israel Hayom on Saturday that the IDF will retain operational freedom to respond to any security threats from across the northern border, regardless of any diplomatic arrangements. However, a source close to Hezbollah told The Washington Post that the group’s “condition for progress remains clear: Israel must be prohibited from conducting operations within Lebanese territory.” Berri emphasized at the time that any ceasefire agreement must not include the ability for Israel to attack by land, sea or air, Channel 12 reported. “Otherwise, what’s the purpose of an agreement?” he remarked. Another sticking point is Lebanon’s objection to the United Kingdom and Germany monitoring the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701. Beirut reportedly favors the United States and France. If the ceasefire efforts fail, there are plans in the works to expand ground operations in Lebanon, an Israeli military official told the Post. Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed the proposal with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during a visit to his Florida estate earlier this month, as well as with senior Biden administration officials in Washington. Dermer also traveled to Russia to discuss the ceasefire proposal. Tehran is telling its Lebanese terrorist proxy Hezbollah that it supports ending the war against Israel, The New York Times reported over the weekend. Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, met with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut on Nov. 15 to discuss the matter. Two Iranians affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps told the Times that Larijani conveyed messages to Hezbollah from Khamenei that he supported the end of the war and that the regime would assist with rebuilding the terrorist group’s forces and recovering from the war.](https://jewishwebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Gideon-Saar-1320x880-2-218x150.jpg "Sa’ar: Israel must be free to act against Hezbollah truce violations")
Early Sunday morning, we learned the tragic news that Hamas had murdered six more of our hostages. And sadly, true to form, Israel’s most radical left is focused on undermining the Netanyahu government rather than directing their outrage at Hamas while demanding harsh retaliation—such as executing Hamas leaders in Israeli prisons, seizing more territory in Gaza, or cutting off aid.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has blamed Netanyahu for the death of the six hostages. By using a national tragedy as a lever to continue the relentless campaign to topple the Netanyahu government, Lapid and his fellow leaders are essentially incentivizing Hamas to continue killing our captives.
This is a dangerous game, the aim of which is to destabilize our government. Hamas would benefit from a government more prone to appeasement than our current War Cabinet—making this a triple win for Hamas.
Israelis all share the same goal: freeing our captives and saving those who are still alive. However, we cannot overlook the fact that we are dealing with an enemy adept at psychological warfare, which uses our compassion against us. Netanyahu and his government stand firm against a triple threat that creates immense pressure from the international community, Hamas and the reckless political left, refusing to compromise the safety of all 9.5 million Israelis.
It’s crucial to remember that Netanyahu has accepted every deal proposed by the Biden administration and that Hamas has consistently turned down every deal. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed this several weeks ago when he said:
“Israel accepts the bridging hostage proposal. Hamas must also do so.” Hamas eventually said no, again.
And yet, Israel’s opposition leaders continue to spread false news and blame the Netanyahu government for the captives’ plight rather than Hamas, which only emboldens Israel’s enemies, encouraging them to continue their aggression. This only encourages Hamas to continue to use the hostages as a means to weaken Israeli society.
Those who suggest Israel capitulate to Hamas’s demands and then return to defeat them later in Gaza are ignoring the harsh reality of international pressure. After over 1,200 innocent Israelis were killed on Oct. 7, the world pushed for Israel to withdraw. The idea that we could return after making a significant concession and face no further international backlash is unrealistic.
The only viable solution to protect our captives—and ensure the safety of all Israelis—is to destroy Hamas, follow a strategic plan that includes deporting terror supporters and resettle Gaza with Jewish communities.
Anyone advocating for “days of rage” to topple the Israeli government rather than focus on destroying Hamas is only aiding our enemies and endangering all Israelis.
Instead of waking up to a public protest movement against Hamas, the political left has launched a ferocious campaign to drive Israelis into the streets, disrupt private life and topple the Netanyahu government.
The once rational, security-minded political left in Israel has been hijacked by an unhinged, dangerous Marxist ideology that distorts compassion and morality into a weapon against our national security. This delusion has become a critical threat to our survival, steering public consciousness away from confronting the grim realities of our ongoing terror war against a genocidal enemy.
For decades, this ideological blind spot has not only perpetuated but exacerbated the terror campaign waged against us by radical Islamic groups, of which Hamas is only one.
The terror war against Israel is not just a series of isolated attacks; it is a systematic, well-coordinated campaign fueled by hostile entities. Hamas in Gaza has been at the forefront of this assault, launching thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians and instigating unprecedented violence. The Palestinian Authority, pushed as a moderate peace partner, uses 17% of its budget, funded by international aid, to reward terrorists for killing innocent Jews in terror attacks. It plays a central role in perpetuating an environment of hostility, incitement and terror against Israel. Behind these organizations are the financial backers—namely, Iran and Qatar—providing the necessary resources for their operations.
By prioritizing ideological battles over security concerns, the left effectively weakens Israel’s position both domestically and internationally. This not only emboldens our enemies but also confuses the public discourse. When the focus is diverted from addressing terrorism to critiquing the Israeli government’s policies, it creates a false equivalence between aggressor and defender that feeds into the agenda of our enemies—and even allies—around the world.
It is crucial for the survival of our nation that we adopt a realistic approach to the threats we face. This means acknowledging the full extent of the terror war against us and supporting government policies that effectively address these dangers. A society can not let compassion be weaponized to undermine our security and endanger our lives.
This is exemplified by the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal, which was also pushed by the political left and the media, with a deliberate campaign to turn the public against Netanyahu. He succumbed, agreeing to the release of over 1,100 Hamas terrorists from Israeli jails in exchange for one IDF captive.
It is known throughout the country (to those that choose to admit the truth) that many of those released terrorists subsequently went on to murder Jews, including during the Oct. 7 massacre. His opponents blame Netanyahu for agreeing to that deal, while at the same time being the chief voices demanding that he repeat the mistake.
Israelis and Jews worldwide must wake up to the dangerous manipulation of Israel’s political left and not be swayed by its arguments, cloaked as “compassion,” that foment internal division and endanger our lives and national security.
It is a matter of life and death. While disagreement and debate are hallmarks of a healthy democracy, we cannot allow an extreme-left ideology to continue to mobilize the mainstream. It is imperative that we unite to confront the real enemy and existential threats our nation faces.
The political left in Israel must return to a more rational security approach, one that prioritizes the safety of Israeli citizens and the effective countering of terrorist threats. Despite the enormous pain and divisive tactics of the left’s political leadership, we as a people are not broken and will continue to fight until we stop our enemies. As the Tikvah organization for families of captives in Gaza publicized on Sunday, “The people of Israel are alive, and despite the great pain, they have not broken and will continue to fight the murderers until the last of the kidnapped are returned and Hamas is destroyed.”