PM Netanyahu & Herzog appeal to Lebanese people: 'Israel wants peace with Lebanon, but will keep fighting Hezbollah'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog both addressed the people of Lebanon directly in video messages on Wednesday, emphasizing Israel’s desire for peace with its northern neighbor. 

Both leaders reaffirmed Israel’s need to confront Hezbollah, stating that Israel is at war with the terror organization and its backer, Iran, rather than the people of Lebanon. 

“I have a message for you, the people of Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. “Israel is not at war with you. We're at war with Hezbollah, that has taken your country hostage, that does Iran's bidding, that uses your territory to launch terrorist attacks against Israel.” 

Asking if the Lebanese “remember what Lebanon was like before Iran and Hezbollah turned it into a nightmare,” the prime minister continued, "You deserve better. Your children deserve better.” 

Netanyahu said that the Lebanese people “know by now that Israel will do whatever it takes to protect our families, our communities.” 

“You also know we yearn for peace with you, with Lebanon. A peace where our two peoples can invest together, build together, thrive together,” he added. 

“The only impediment, the only obstacle to this beautiful vision is Hezbollah,” Prime Minister Netanyahu stated. “They want war, not peace. They want death, not life. They will sacrifice as many of you as possible to achieve their sick aims. Don't let your future be dictated by medieval theocrats hellbent on destroying our common civilization.” 

President Isaac Herzog addressed two statements to the Lebanese people, including one in Arabic. 

“From Israel’s northern border, I extend a hand of peace to the President of Lebanon and to the Lebanese people,” Herzog said in Arabic. “But Lebanon must remain free from the influence of Iran, Hezbollah, and the terror organizations as an independent and sovereign nation.” 

יש לי חלום לנסוע ישירות ברכב לביירות, והוא יכול להתקיים - אך ורק אם עתידה של לבנון ייקבע בביירות ולא בטהרן.

הבוקר, בביקורי ביישובים בגבול לבנון, פניתי לנשיא לבנון ולעם הלבנוני בשפה הערבית >>

لديّ حلم بالسفر بالسيارة إلى بيروت، وما زال هذا الحلم قائماً، بشرط أن يُصنع مستقبل… pic.twitter.com/qVXKXsXa2o

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) June 10, 2026

“My dream is to travel to Beirut, and this dream is still alive, but only if Lebanon’s future is determined in Beirut, and not in Tehran.” 

Speaking in English, President Herzog continued, noting that Hezbollah was the one who violated previous ceasefire agreements between Israel and Lebanon. 

“It was Hezbollah that violated the UN Security Council Resolution of 2006. It was Hezbollah that violated the ceasefire agreement of 2024,” Herzog stated. 

From Israel’s northern border, which could one day be a border of peace, I sent this message to the President and people of Lebanon this morning: pic.twitter.com/tjvG0xUbUn

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) June 10, 2026

“Israel cannot accept any attacks on our citizens, any attacks crossing our borders, any terror attacks. We have the full right to defend ourselves, and so long as there is no clear arrangement that protects our nation, it will be impossible to move forward. So it's in your hands, fight for it.” 

The two messages come as Israeli and Lebanese officials have conducted several meetings under the aegis the U.S. State Department in Washington, and after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he would only be willing to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu following a permanent armistice. 

“We need to end the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel. Forever. And this (pact) could be a path forward for a just and lasting peace,” Aoun said in an interview with CNN last week. 

On Wednesday, several hundred supporters of Lebanon gathered in Beirut to rally in support of Hezbollah, waving the bright yellow flags of the terror organization and of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the past, Hezbollah rallies have garnered thousands of attenders. 

On Wednesday evening, the IDF said it struck Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure in the southern city of Tyre and other areas of southern Lebanon. 

בצור ובדרום לבנון: צה"ל ממשיך לתקוף תשתיות ולחסל מחבלים מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה

במהלך היממה האחרונה, צה"ל תקף תשתיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה וחיסל מחבלים בצור ובמרחבים נוספים בדרום לבנון.

במסגרת אחת התקיפות, הותקף מצבור אמצעי לחימה של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה. בעקבות התקיפה, זוהו… pic.twitter.com/rcQtm1hjXc

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 10, 2026

“Over the past day, the IDF struck infrastructure of the terror organization Hezbollah and eliminated terrorists in Tyre and additional areas in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement.

“As part of one of the strikes, a stockpile of weaponry belonging to the terror organization Hezbollah was targeted. Following the strike, secondary explosions were identified, indicating the presence of weaponry.”