(Ynet News) Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland - Lebanon has been under Iran's control for years through its Shiite proxy Hizbullah. It is time for the U.S. to present Beirut with an ultimatum: if it wants to continue being seen as an independent country, it must demand that Hizbullah demilitarize and renounce its heavy weapons. If Lebanon refuses, the U.S. should boycott it along with any organization that would agree to do business with it. Even though Shiite Muslims are the biggest sect in Lebanon, they are not the majority. Lebanon's silent majority opposes Hizbullah and is justifiably concerned about the destruction that would be inflicted on them if Hizbullah drags them into a military campaign against Israel. Despite Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's hawkish statements, the terror organization is facing a severe financial crisis. It must treat thousands of wounded in Syria's civil war and pay the families that lost their relatives in that war, as well as pay the pensions of militants who joined the organization 30 years ago and are now retiring. The writer is a former head of Israel's National Security Council.
2018-12-12 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive