‘Every place whereupon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours, from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river Euphrates, even unto the hinder sea, this shall be your border…’ Book of Deuteronomy
Israeli Rabbi Eliyahu Zini is demanding that the Israeli military maintain its presence in Lebanon, declaring that the country is part of ‘Israel’s historical and eternal inheritance’ and thus opposes any withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Zini made the remarks during a parliamentary committee session on Monday, according to video footage circulated on social media and reports by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
‘I spoke with several ministers last night, and I asked them, ‘Are you crazy, or are you normal? On what basis are you giving up our ancestors’ heritage? All of Lebanon belongs to us,’ Zini said.
Rabbi Eliyahu Zini is the uncle of Shin Bet chief David Zini.
His comments come amidst an ongoing debate in Israel over the implementation of the US-mediated framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The agreement, signed on Friday under US auspices, provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with two pilot areas, while the Lebanese army assumes responsibility for security in the areas vacated by Israeli forces.
Israel has maintained a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon for years, with some areas occupied for decades and others captured during subsequent military operations. During the latest offensive, Israeli forces advanced more than 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israel’s military campaign, which began on March 2, 2026, has resulted in 4,247 people being murdered and 12,195 wounded, while displacing more than one million residents.