JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday extended a direct message of peace to the people of Lebanon, declaring that Israel seeks harmony with its northern neighbor but identifying Hezbollah as the sole barrier to that vision.

“We long for peace with you. The only obstacle to this beautiful vision is Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said in his appeal. “They want war, not peace. They want death, not life. You deserve more. Your children deserve more.”

The statement comes amid ongoing tensions and Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s conflict is not with the Lebanese people but with the Iran-backed militant group, which has used Lebanese civilians as human shields and drawn the country into cycles of violence.

Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, have issued similar messages this week, urging Lebanon to free itself from Hezbollah’s dominance and Iranian influence to pave the way for lasting peace and prosperity. The appeals follow recent Lebanese calls for dialogue and occur against the backdrop of a fragile security situation in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu’s message echoes past overtures in which he has called on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and reclaim its sovereignty, promising a future of peace and economic opportunity for both nations. Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by Israel and many Western countries, has long been accused of prioritizing its agenda — and Tehran’s — over Lebanese national interests.

No immediate response from Lebanese officials was reported. The situation remains fluid as Israel continues efforts to neutralize threats from the group while expressing hope for a broader regional de-escalation.