Israeli Former Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (Credit:MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
A former Israeli defence minister, and right-wing opposition politician, Avigdor Lieberman, has called for the Israeli army to control parts of southern Lebanon, in order to create a security buffer zone.
Lieberman, who is the chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, a right-wing secular, nationalist party, opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, said that Lebanon must “pay in territory” for the damage caused by Hezbollah strikes on towns in northern Israel, the Times of Israel.
In comments published on Monday from a party faction meeting, Lieberman suggested that the Israeli army could create a security buffer zone in southern Lebanon, to "prevent anti-aircraft fire and physical occupation of the conflict line as happened...on the seventh of October" in Gaza. He said this zone, described by the Times of Israel as a form of occupation, could be there "until a government is established in Beirut that is able to exercise its sovereignty over the entire territory" which could take up to 50 years.
Ongoing strikes between Hezbollah and Israeli army
Avigdor Lieberman's comments come as exchanges of fire continued between Hezbollah and the Israeli army along southern Lebanon's border with Israel on Sunday.
Clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the southern border have been ongoing since Oct. 8. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah called the party's activities there "a support front" for its ally Hamas, during his first speech after the start of the war. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in northern Israel - while those who have stayed have complained that Israel's government is not doing enough to keep them safe by providing them with shelters.
In southern Lebanon, at least 109 people have been killed amidst near-daily bombardements by the Israeli army - according to the latest data published by the Lebanese health ministry on December 20. 64,053 people have been displaced, according to data by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Drone and air strikes by the Israeli army against towns in southern Lebanon have damaged vast swathes of agricultural land, as well as houses.
South of Litani river "must be under control of Israeli army"
In comments reported on Monday, Avigdor Lieberman proposed that Israel’s military must “close off” parts of southern Lebanon, and that "everything between the Litani and Israel must be under the control" of the Israeli army.
This follows a similar suggestion made by the current Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, that the Israeli army could push Hezbollah north of the Litani river, to enable communities in northern Israel to return to their homes. In a new year's message, the Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, did not specifically mention Lebanon, but he said his troops were being prepared for "prolonged fighting" and that adaptations are being made to "ensure the planning and preparation for continuing the war in 2024."
"The IDF must plan ahead out of an understanding that there will be additional missions and the fighting will continue the rest of the year."
Resolution 1701 ended the July 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. It called for the full cessation of hostilities, the deployment of Lebanese forces to Southern Lebanon, parallel withdrawal of Israeli forces behind the Blue Line, and the establishment of a demilitarised zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River.
Avigdor Lieberman said Israel would "not annex anything", but compared his proposal with that of the military occupation of Germany after the second World War. “It can’t be that there are entire towns where close to half of the buildings were simply destroyed,” he added.
Previously in October Lieberman said that the destruction of Hamas, dealing with Hezbollah and freeing the hostages takes precedence over “other challenges,” Haaretz reported.
Naim Qassem, the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, said on Sunday that "Israel is not in a position to impose its choices regarding its presence in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel." He added that "Israel cannot relocate settlers to the north amidst this battle...It must first halt the Gaza war to cease hostilities in Lebanon. Persisting in bombing civilians in Lebanon means the response will be stronger and proportionate to Israeli aggression."