We don't want war with Lebanon: Israeli President

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Oct 2023 14:02
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Israeli President says the occupation is not seeking war in the north or any other front.

Israeli president President Isaac Herzog makes statements to the media in "Tel Aviv", Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 (AP)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said "Israel" doesn't seek a confrontation with Lebanon. However, the Israeli Occupation Forces' objective is to focus on Gaza and eliminate Hamas.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon ... I want to emphasize that we are not seeking confrontation on our northern border or with anyone else. We are focused on destroying Hamas infrastructure and bringing our citizens home," Herzog said.

There are paramount concerns within the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) about the political leadership possibly canceling a planned ground invasion of Gaza, Israeli media reported on Monday.

Netanyahu is hesitant about launching the operation, citing concerns about becoming entangled in both southern and northern fronts, Israeli media said.

These concerns come as the IOF faces a delicate balance between military necessity and the risk of political fallout. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, there is growing apprehension within the military regarding the potential delay or cancellation of a ground invasion.

The newspaper has reported that the Lebanese Resistance group Hezbollah could effectively keep the Israeli occupation preoccupied with its actions. By doing so, "Israel" would bear a disproportionate cost compared to the relatively minimal price paid by Hezbollah.

British newspaper The Telegraph has highlighted that clashes with Hezbollah at the Lebanese border are complicating the Israeli plan for a ground invasion of Gaza. The escalating confrontations in the north have delayed the strategic timeline.

According to reports cited by the British outlet, the Israeli occupation has postponed its ground invasion of Gaza due to the intensifying confrontations along the northern border with Lebanon.

Israeli Channel 14 quoted unnamed officials expressing reservations about moving into Gaza at this moment. The ongoing hostilities along the Lebanese border have reinforced the perception that the time was not right to launch a ground invasion.