Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s call “to burn all of Lebanon” has sparked international condemnation, with Iran latching on to the comment as proof that Israel is a “genocidal death cult” that seeks “constant war.”

In Israel there was silence from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar over the incendiary call, while former prime minister Naftali Bennett tried to allay criticism by dismissing the ultra-nationalist leader as a “clown” with no real impact on policy.

Ben Gvir published his comments on X on Friday after the Israel Defense Forces announced that four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, where the IDF is battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.

“All of Lebanon needs to burn!” Ben Gvir had posted to his X feed.

“For every teardrop of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers need to cry,” he wrote, and noted that he gave the same message to Netanyahu during meetings they held.

“Our supreme duty is to protect Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers, and that duty comes before all other considerations.”

“With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” Ben Gvir said.

He continued that in the Middle East, wars are not won with “measured and constrained” responses.

“You go berserk. To obliterate. To crush the terror,” he asserted.

Ben Gvir’s call came as Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire aimed at halting months of fighting that began when the terror group attacked northern Israel in support of Iran.

Iran insisted that Lebanon be included in the truce reached between Tehran and Washington last week, but though an end to the fighting in Lebanon was mentioned in the memorandum of understanding, clashes continued in southern Lebanon, even after Friday’s ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Another soldier was killed and over a dozen were injured on Saturday. Dozens of Lebanese have reportedly been killed in Israeli........

© The Times of Israel