(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The former head of Israel’s National Security Council said Israel should target the Lebanese Army, state infrastructures, and institutions in the event of a new war.
Major-General (ret.) Giora Eiland announced the recommendations in a May 26 editorial called “How to postpone the third Lebanon war,” which was published in the Israeli news outlet, Ynet.
“If we are fired on from Lebanese territory, and Israel decides to wage a battle, it must declare war on Lebanon and focus its efforts also against Hezbollah but mainly against the Lebanese army, the Lebanese infrastructures and the Lebanese state institutions,” Eiland wrote.
The 2006 Lebanon War killed almost 1,200 Lebanese — a third of whom were children. An additional 4,000 were injured, and almost one million displaced. According to Amnesty International, Israel deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure.
Eiland said that by targeting Lebanese institutions, the international community is more likely to call for a “urgent” ceasefire.
“A ceasefire after three days rather than after 33 days is both the way to win the next war and to recreate effective deterrence,” he said.
Readers who commented on the editorial expressed support for Eiland’s recommendations, adding that Israel should “hit (Lebanon’s) electric, gas, water and sewage plants, roads, airports, ports, bridges, all on the first day.”
Eiland adds that by attacking Lebanese state infrastructure, Israel avoids war with Hezbollah and the international community would “favor Israel.”
“Israel should always favor war (or an agreement) with a state player rather than with a terror organization,” Eiland wrote. “This statement applies to Lebanon, and it applies just as much to Gaza.”
In recent months, Israel has been accused of recent episodes of excessive force, including a United Nations Security Council report in March, which accuses Israel of killing a Spanish peacekeeper in January. The report also identified “the presence of unauthorized weapons” in Lebanon.
To read the full editorial, click here.