Netanyahu: Hezbollah Violations Are Undermining the Cease-Fire; IDF Is Operating in Lebanon With Force

Prime Minister's meeting (Photo: Itay Beit-On, GPO)<\/p>

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At the start of today’s (Sunday) cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a string of security and social developments, delivering a firm message both about violence within Israel and about events on the northern border.<\/p>

Netanyahu first addressed the attempted assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump: \"Like you, my wife and I were shocked to hear about the renewed attempt to murder President Trump and his wife. We were glad that both of them, along with senior American officials, emerged unharmed. There is no place for violence—not against political leaders and not against anyone. And that applies not only to the United States—it applies first and foremost to the State of Israel, within our society.\"<\/p>

He then spoke about the murder that occurred in Petah Tikva and expressed deep shock: \"I was horrified by the despicable murder in Petah Tikva, at a pizzeria in Petah Tikva. They took a beloved child, Yamno Binyamin Zalka, z\"l<\/i>, and cut his life short. After that—wild incitement. I think this is something we cannot accept; we must stop it and uproot it while it is still small.\"<\/span><\/p>

He said he intends to hold an immediate meeting with Education Minister Yoav Kisch and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to consider systemic steps: \"The murderers must be brought to justice, and we must instill—both in schools, in classrooms, and at home, with teachers and parents—the understanding that this is a heinous act; to denounce it in every possible way.\"<\/span><\/p>

Netanyahu also addressed the security situation in the north and the IDF’s activity in Lebanon. In his words, \"There is a sense as if the IDF is not operating there. It is operating, and it is operating with force.\" He stressed that \"Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, eroding the cease-fire.\"<\/p>

The prime minister further clarified that Israel is operating under rules agreed upon with the U.S. and Lebanon: \"That means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks—that is clear—but to thwart immediate threats, and to put at risk emerging threats as well.\" He also noted that \"In the past two weeks, according to Northern Command, we have eliminated 46 terrorists, and we will act with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.\"<\/p>

Alongside the security and social remarks, Netanyahu presented new appointments approved by the government. He announced, among other things, the appointment of Tzipi Hotovely to head the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, noting that \"Tzipi is well known to you... and she will take on this important task in coordination, of course, working with the Foreign Ministry.\" He also announced that Doron Cohen will assume the role of Civil Service Commissioner, emphasizing his extensive experience: \"He combines both the private sector and the public sector, and we need to bring the standards of the business sector into the public sector.\"<\/p>

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