Defense Minister Benny Gantz made an unexpected statement this morning about Lebanon. Addressing the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Aug. 10, Gantz said, “While [Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan] Nasrallah is our greatest enemy to the north, he is Lebanon’s biggest problem from within Lebanon. We see the tragedy that happened in Lebanon. … Just think about what would happen if that were repeated with Iranian weapons in Lebanese villages.” Gantz went further, warning, “We are dealing with enemies who are operating and storing weapons in a civilian environment. If we have no choice but to fight, it might have difficult implications.”
Gantz was appointed to his position in May, but his address today was his first briefing to the committee as defense minister as well as the first address by a defense minister to the committee since November. Illustrating the volatile situation in Lebanon, Gantz said that there are homes in the neighboring country with both guest and missile rooms. "As a security network, we are fighting enemies that keep weapons and operate in civilian surroundings. If we don’t have a choice but to fight, it will have dire consequences,” he added.