Published on 6/8/2026
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Last update: 23:36 (Mecca time)
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that he completely opposes a ground invasion or occupation of any part of southern Lebanon, but stressed that disarming Hezbollah represents a fundamental pillar of the region’s security and is not just an internal Lebanese matter.
This came in an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, during which Olmert stressed the necessity of reaching a comprehensive ceasefire linking the Lebanese and Iranian fronts through the ongoing negotiations in Washington.
In the details of his vision of the regional situation, Olmert expressed his satisfaction with the end of the recent round of escalation between Tehran and Tel Aviv, but he warned of the possibility of its resumption if the attacks in Lebanon continued and Israel responded to them.
Olmert called for the continuation of the negotiation process launched in Washington to ensure a comprehensive calm that includes both Lebanon and Iran, considering that the Lebanese government’s willingness to consider the option of “signing peace with Israel” represents an extremely important step forward.
Regarding Hezbollah’s weapons, the former Prime Minister stressed the need to disarm it as it is a “destabilizing force for many years,” refusing to consider it an internal sovereign matter given that the party directs its attacks outside Lebanon’s borders against Israel.
He added that the party’s attacks on October 8, 2023 broke a 17-year lull since the 2006 war, and caused the displacement and evacuation of more than 80,000 residents of northern Israel.
He refused to occupy the south
Regarding the Israeli calls to completely occupy southern Lebanon or establish a buffer zone (yellow line), Olmert confirmed his disagreement with these proposals, saying:
“Nothing in the occupation of southern Lebanon will lead to Israel’s security. We have been in southern Lebanon for many years and this matter has not contributed anything to Israel’s security.”
Olmert attributed Tel Aviv’s desire to continue the wars to the nature of the ruling structure, as he described the majority of the current Israeli government as “extremist and belonging to the Messianic movement,” indicating that this movement wants to continue the military confrontations in Lebanon, with Iran, and most likely in Gaza.
He doubted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ability to adequately control and control this issue, expressing his hope that US President Donald Trump would use his ability to persuade to end Iranian influence on the Lebanon and Hezbollah front, and in return push Israel to a comprehensive ceasefire.
Disputing numbers and behind the scenes of the conclusion
The interview witnessed a public debate and confrontation when the broadcaster compared Hezbollah’s weapons to those of Jewish settlers in the West Bank supported by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Olmert completely rejected the comparison, describing the settlers’ crimes as brutality that must be addressed internally through campaigns inside Israel, while Hezbollah directs its attacks abroad.
Regarding the humanitarian dimension, the broadcaster confronted his guest with the huge difference in human cost, pointing out that the displacement of 80,000 Israelis was matched by the displacement of a million Lebanese citizens and the killing of 3,500 others at the hands of the Israeli army.
Despite Olmert’s acknowledgment that the ground operations had caused the temporary occupation of parts of the south and his demand for the necessity of Israel’s withdrawal, he chose to end the interview suddenly following the broadcaster’s comment that the Israeli narrative traces all the world’s crises back to October 7, justifying his direct withdrawal by his prior connection to another media interview.
