Netanyahu warns Hezbollah head: ‘Don’t count on an Israeli civil war’

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a direct warning to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. 

Netanyahu said Israel was “confronting our enemies on two main fronts: The terrorism front and the Iranian front.” 

“Iran’s attacks will not weaken us,” he added. 

Netanyahu also spoke about Iran’s attempt to “entrench on our northern border.” 

In remarks directed toward Nasrallah, Netanyahu said Hezbollah should not take satisfaction in the turmoil in Israel.  

“I heard the remarks by Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon. I heard Nasrallah’s remarks when he spoke about the demonstrations against the government and said with satisfaction that a civil war in Israel is approaching. Therefore, I say to Nasrallah: Don’t count on a civil war. It will not happen. It will not happen because we are indeed brothers. It will not happen because what Nasrallah does not understand is that we are a living democracy. In a democracy, there are differences of opinion and debates. Sometimes there is agreement and when it is necessary, there are decisions. There will be no civil war because we always remember that we have fought shoulder-to-shoulder to defend our state and build our land.” 

Netanyahu also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to democracy, saying he wanted to “reassure friends.” 

“Israel is, and will remain, a strong, vibrant and independent democracy."

Netanyahu addressed a group of Jewish leaders that evening at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, promising that “Israel is a democracy and will remain a democracy, with majority rule and proper safeguards of civil liberties.” 

The prime minister said he would have preferred to explain to them why they shouldn’t worry about the reforms, but that he was unable to do so, due to the gag order. 

Netanyahu has been ordered by Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara not to speak about the proposed judicial reforms because it could violate his conflict-of-interest agreement made in 2020. 

In response, the attorney general said that Netanyahu can speak out in order to urge calm, but he cannot speak about the specifics of the reforms.

The uproar over judicial reforms continues as the Knesset is expected to vote on the first of several proposed reforms Monday evening.