[READ TRANSCRIPT HERE]

Following the October 7th barbaric attacks on Israel, Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy that sits on Israel’s northern border, had begun lobbing Katusha rockets, mortar rockets, drones, and anti-tank missiles on Israel’s northern border. The Israeli government has evacuated 43 communities from Israel’s north, leaving approximately 61,000 Israelis as “internally displaced refugees.” Many are afraid to go home and are living in temporary residences and hotels until the northern border is more secure. In the meantime, unfortunately, both Lebanon and Syria have been strong allies of Hezbollah, and neither of those two governments seem prepared to take on Hezbollah. Certainly, the government of Lebanon remains under the tight grip of Hezbollah and is unwilling to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which says that Hezbollah must go north of the Litani River.

The government of Israel has been saying for several months now that they will tackle Hezbollah after they have eliminated the threat from Hamas in the south. Do they now have the capability, commitment, and will to do this? If not, what will become of Israel’s northern border, and of the tens of thousands of evacuees from the north?

Here to answer these questions is Lieutenant Colonel Sarit Zehavi.

About the Speaker: Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Sarit Zehavi is the founder and president of Alma – a nonprofit and an independent research and education center specialized in Israel’s security challenges on its northern border. Sarit has briefed hundreds of groups and forums, ranging from US Senators, Congressmen/women and politicians to senior journalists and visiting VIP groups in Israel and overseas. Sarit scripts numerous position papers and updates focusing on Lebanon, Syria and Israel’s national security challenges. She served for 15 years in the Israeli Defense Forces, specializing in Military Intelligence. Sarit holds an M.A. in Middle East Studies from Ben-Gurion University. Her unique achievements led her to be selected by the Jerusalem Post as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Global Jewish personalities of 2021.