Gantz calls on Israeli army to attack 'assets' of Lebanese state

Former minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet and leader of the opposition National Union party (center) Benny Gantz has called on Network X for the Israeli government to attack the “assets” of the Lebanese state, which he accuses of leaving the field open to Hezbollah.

“The Lebanese government is giving Hezbollah carte blanche. It's time to take firm action against its assets,” wrote the politician and former military officer. On Sunday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a 1 p.m. strike on the Glilot base on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, headquarters of the Israeli army's intelligence unit 8200.

Gantz, Netanyahu's political rival, is becoming increasingly vocal at a time when the Prime Minister is facing domestic difficulties as a result of legal proceedings that have so far led to the indictment of at least one of his aides. The latter is accused of passing on classified documents with the intention of harming the state. Internationally, Netanyahu is further weakened by the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Gantz had said on Thursday during a tour of northern Israel, where he met Israeli families affected by recent rocket attacks, that the Israeli government should adopt a firmer stance towards Lebanon, as part of talks on a possible cease-fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah. He suggested that the Israeli army “intensify its bombardments against Lebanese infrastructures until the message is understood,” according to a translation of his remarks broadcast in a video on social networks and relayed by certain Israeli sites.

This position is in line with that expressed in recent days by Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz, and his Foreign Affairs colleague Gideon Saar.