If Israel fails to respond to the Hezbollah attack that killed two IDF soldiers on its side of the Lebanese border, it deterrence capability will be harmed, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said.
Those who argue that Israel should ignore the incident, Liberman said, are supporting a situation in which Hezbollah can strengthen its arms capacity and hold on Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria, so they can attack when ever they want.
“This would be a serious blow to Israel’s deterrence capability,” he said.
Liberman posted his words of warning on his Facebook page, after Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Israel had received a message from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that Hezbollah was not interested in further escalation.
"Indeed, a message was received," he said. "There are lines of coordination between us and Lebanon via UNIFIL and such a message was indeed received from Lebanon,” Ya’alon.
Liberman, however, urged Israel to respond harshly and noted that even a proportionate response sent the wrong message.
“The terrorists [Hezbolalh] want a proportionate response, because it would lead to a war of attrition and perpetuate the conflict,” Liberman said.
Quiet follow the Second Lebanon War in 2006, because it dealt Hezbollah a harsh blow. But Israel’s failure to deal harshly enough this summer with Hamas during Operation Protective Edge has embolden Hezbollah to act against Israel, Liberman said.
If Israel does not act now, he said, this perception that it is safe to attack Israel will only grow among terrorist organizations.
What is needed now “is a disproportionate response that defeats terrorism,” Liberman said.
“Yesterday Israel was forced to close airports again, this time in Haifa and Rosh Pina,” Liberman said. Roads and tourist sites were closed and the routine life of Israeli citizens was disrupted, he said.
Residents of the north and south can not be held hostage in this way, he said.
“It’s time to take the glove off when dealing with terrorism,” Liberman said.