Netanyahu admits giving green light to Hezbollah pager attack

Benjamin Netanyahu admitted on Sunday that Israel was behind the coordinated explosions of Hezbollah’s communications devices, carried out on September 17 and 18 and causing numerous deaths across Lebanon, his spokesperson told AFP, Omer Dostri, confirming information that Israeli media had previously reported, Netanyahu added that this operation – like the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the end of September – was carried out with his green light despite. opposition from senior security officials and certain ministers.

This is the first time that Israel has officially claimed responsibility for these attacks which left at least 40 dead, including a child, and more than 2,900 injured, and which are the subject of numerous complaints from Lebanon against Israel to the UN. The Israeli Prime Minister spoke at the start of his weekly government meeting and also reiterated that Israel assassinated Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, however, denied reports that the Jewish state was involved in attacks on Hezbollah’s booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies.

Renewed criticism of Gallant

Mr. Netanyahu’s comments came during the first meeting of his cabinet after the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and his replacement by former Foreign Minister Israel Katz. This decision sparked a number of critics who argued that Israel Katz “has no military or defense policy experience while Israel is in the middle of a war,” according to the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot.

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In his speech to ministers, Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that Mr. Gallant “opposed Israeli operations against the Iranian-backed terrorist group” (Hezbollah), and instead insisted that these attacks be carried out. He added that a “false media campaign” was being waged against him and claimed that Hamas had “raised its demands for a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages” after the killing of six hostages Israelis in September.