Lapid lauds Lebanon deal as making war ‘less likely,’ says money is not going to reach Hezbollah
At a live primetime press conference on the Lebanon-Israel maritime border deal, Prime Minister Yair Lapid says that those that oppose the deal are spreading “false, poisonous” lies, that are “mostly said by individuals who haven’t seen the agreement and don’t have any clue what’s in it and what isn’t.”
Lapid says he’ll invite the heads of all of the opposition parties for in-depth briefings on the agreement.
The premier thanks US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron for his or her assist in reaching the “historic” agreement.
“It is a large achievement for Israel’s economy and security,” he says. “The agreement provides a really perfect response to our security needs,” Lapid adds. “It doesn’t preserve our security, it improves our security.”
“This agreement staves off the potential for a military clash with Hezbollah,” says Lapid. “Israel isn’t afraid of Hezbollah. The IDF is stronger than any terror organization, and if we went out to battle, we’d deal them a heavy blow.”
“That being said,” Lapid adds, “if it is feasible to forestall war, it’s the job of a responsible government to achieve this.”
Lapid continues that the deal “preserves the safety of communities within the north in addition to the liberty of motion of the IDF and the Israeli Navy’s control of the world closest to the shoreline, on what’s often known as the Buoy Line. “
Defense Minister Benny Gantz also blasts opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu for opposing the deal for political reasons.
