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🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

Ben-Gvir says has respect for Trump, but warns against 'weak ceasefire' deal

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned against a "weak ceasefire" deal with Lebanon, urging decisive victory over those threatening Israel.
  • Ben-Gvir stated that Israel respects U.S. President Trump but prioritizes its own citizens' security, warning that Beirut could face consequences if it becomes a base for terrorism.
  • He criticized past Israeli policies of measured responses, arguing they were interpreted as weakness and allowed enemies to strengthen.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir issued a stern warning against accepting a "weak ceasefire" deal concerning Lebanon, advocating instead for a decisive victory against any entity threatening Israel's security. Speaking at a press conference, Ben-Gvir emphasized that any group threatening Israelis must face unbearable consequences.

Not another weak ceasefire. Anyone who threatens the citizens of Israel must pay a price that will be unbearable.

— Itamar Ben-GvirWarning against a lenient ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.

His remarks followed U.S. Vice President JD Vance's announcement of significant progress in talks with Iran, which Vance described as aiming to protect both Israeli security and Lebanese sovereignty. Ben-Gvir directly addressed Vance, questioning what actions he would take against "Nazis" and framing the current situation as a historic opportunity to secure Israel's future. He stressed that the primary equation must be Israel's safety, warning that failure to act decisively could lead to severe repercussions for Beirut.

I’m telling Vance, what would you do in response to these Nazis?

— Itamar Ben-GvirDirectly questioning U.S. Vice President JD Vance on how he would respond to threats.

While acknowledging respect for U.S. President Donald Trump, Ben-Gvir asserted that Israel's security interests and its citizens' well-being take absolute precedence. He criticized previous Israeli strategies of "measured responses" and "imaginary equations," arguing that these approaches were perceived as weakness by adversaries, enabling them to bolster their capabilities. Ben-Gvir insisted that future attacks on Israel should be met with a far more robust response.

The equation must be simple: the State of Israel must be safe.

— Itamar Ben-GvirStating the primary security objective for Israel.

Ben-Gvir further cautioned that if Lebanon permits itself to be used as a launching ground for terrorism against Israel, Beirut must understand that its normal operations would be jeopardized. He also sharply criticized former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, suggesting that Ben-Gvir's stance, prioritizing Israeli lives and rejecting surrender to international pressure, resonates with a substantial portion of the Israeli public.

We respect President Trump, but first of all, the soldiers of Israel, our fighters, our citizens. The security of Israel’s civilians comes first.

— Itamar Ben-GvirPrioritizing Israeli security over political relationships.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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