Politics Concerns about escalation between Israel and Hezbollah

Militant statements by Israeli politicians are fueling concerns about an escalation of the conflict with the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah.

Nissim Vaturi, member of parliament for the ruling Likud party, said, according to the Israeli Kan channel, with regard to a possible war with Lebanon, that it was "a matter of days before something develops". He cited four to five days of intensive air strikes followed by a ground offensive as a conceivable scenario.

Vaturi said that the predominantly Shiite district of Dahiah in the south of Beirut would then "look like Gaza". The member of the parliamentary committee for foreign and security policy added: "There is no other way." He cited the continuous shelling of the Israeli north by Hezbollah as the reason for this. In order to bring the residents who have fled back to northern Israel, "we must find a solution". Hezbollah is not prepared to withdraw from the border fence.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been military confrontations between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on an almost daily basis. People have been killed both in Israel and in Lebanon, and tens of thousands have fled the border area because of the fighting.

We must enter into an intensive war "to end this embarrassing game of ping-pong", demanded Vaturi. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu feels the same way. "Therefore, it is something that will develop in the coming days."

According to an Israeli representative, Netanyahu has instructed the army to prepare "to change this situation". Hezbollah is "the strongest arm of Iran".

According to media reports, the Israeli opposition politician Benny Gantz also said during a visit to Washington that it was time to bring about a decision in the north. If this could not be achieved through diplomacy, a war would be the only solution to enable the return of the inhabitants of the border region. "We can achieve this goal, even if it means damaging the state of Lebanon itself. Unfortunately, I see no other way."

Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border - as stipulated by a UN resolution. However, the Shiite militia does not want to stop firing on Israel until there is a ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and its ally Hamas. Despite months of efforts, a diplomatic solution is not in sight.