Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the Lebanese people with a peace message in Arabic on Wednesday, saying that the country must free itself from the influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
"From Israel’s northern border, I extend a hand of peace to the president of Lebanon and to the Lebanese people. But Lebanon must remain free from the influence of Iran, Hezbollah, and the terror organizations as an independent and sovereign nation," Herzog said.
"My dream is to travel to Beirut, and this dream is still alive, but only if Lebanon’s future is determined in Beirut, and not in Tehran," Herzog added.
Switching to English, he said in the statement that Hezbollah was responsible for violating the 2006 and 2024 ceasefire agreements between Israel and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later issued a similar message to the Lebanese people: "Israel is not at war with you. We're at war with Hezbollah, that has taken your country hostage, that does Iran's bidding, that uses your territory to launch terrorist attacks against Israel."
Netanyahu said Israel has "taken out nearly 10,000 Hezbollah terrorists so far."
"Israel wants peace with you. Seize your future," he said, adding: "once Hezbollah is dismantled, the possibilities are endless."
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been in place since April, but its effectiveness remains in question.
The terms include a halt to mutual attacks, Hezbollah's withdrawal beyond the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli border, and the disarmament of Hezbollah. However, the Iran-backed militia has not agreed to these terms.
Talks in Washington between Israeli and Lebanese representatives on a lasting ceasefire have so far produced no breakthrough. Lebanon and Israel have no diplomatic relations and have never concluded a peace agreement.
Since April, Israeli and Lebanese government representatives have been speaking directly to each other at the political level for the first time since 1983.
