With terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah still a threat at Israel’s borders, JNS reports that Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said that peace depends on the terror groups disarming, which they are in the process of or are expected to do soon:
“We can’t live with jihadis on our border anymore. That’s the lesson of Oct. 7,” said Leiter, referring to the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The ambassador defended Israel’s post-ceasefire strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, saying they don’t jeopardize the agreements because “ceasefire and ultimate peace depend on groups like Hamas and Hezbollah disarming.”
He explained that the Hezbollah ceasefire is performance-based, requiring the Lebanese army to disarm the terrorist group. If it fails to do so, and Hezbollah rearms, Israel must act, he said. “That’s part of the agreement that we have,” he added. The same principle applies in Gaza, he said, where Hamas is supposed to disarm.
With the return of Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose body was held by Hamas since 2014, the four remaining bodies held in Gaza are Meny Godard, Staff-Sergeant Major Ran Gvili, Dror Or, and Sudthisak Rinthalak. Searches are currently underway for them. Hamas officials have said that they may not disarm once they are released, despite what the U.S.-brokered ceasefire demands.
Amid post-ceasefire strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure as the terror group attempts to rebuild, Israel continues to pressure the Lebanese government to disarm them. Some Israeli officials have said that Hezbollah is rebuilding faster than they are being disarmed.
Leiter also described the security at Israel’s border as a personal issue for all Israelis as the country hopes to end the years of war against terror proxies that are intent on destroying them. The Fellowship and our supporters send prayers of shalom, peace, to those who have been crying out for it for so long.
