Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army will remain in southern Lebanon because this is necessary “to achieve the higher goal.”
“Just as we restored security and prosperity in the Gaza Strip, we will restore security and prosperity in the northern settlements as well. This requires maintaining a security zone in southern Lebanon; it requires that we not leave it as long as Israel’s needs require it. Because this zone separates Hezbollah from our citizens and our settlements. And in a broader sense, we will continue to adhere to the higher goal that has guided us, guided me, for most of my adult life,” Netanyahu said.
He did not specify what exactly this “higher goal” consists of.
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