Israel’s war with Lebanon ‘not inevitable,’ says ex-official

JERUSALEM

The former head of Israel’s National Security Council said Thursday that war with Lebanon “is not inevitable” amid cross-border attacks between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah.

"It seems that we come close to war (with Lebanon), but it's not inevitable," Giora Eiland told local radio 103FM.

"The only thing that worries the world and perhaps [Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan] Nasrallah is the destruction of Lebanon," he said.

Eiland, however, termed fighting with Hezbollah as a “defeat” to Israel.

“Around 80% of our population will be in shelters and there will be no economy,” he added.

"No one (in the international community) wants to see destruction in Lebanon, this is the motive that could halt the war in Lebanon," the former official said.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 37,700 people since October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar