Israeli Foreign Minister Denies Regional Ambitions in Lebanon, Calls to End Iranian Occupation

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that it was positive to have renewed discussions with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

He added that Israel would respect the ceasefire in Lebanon as long as Hezbollah does not breach it.

Sa'ar affirmed that Israel holds no regional ambitions in Lebanon but emphasized that it would not withdraw from the security zone if doing so would expose its citizens to Hezbollah attacks or potential incursions.

He noted that Lebanon's sovereignty has been violated for decades up to the present, due to indirect occupation by Iran through Hezbollah, and stressed that dismantling what he described as the "Hezbollah terrorist state" serves the interests of both Lebanon and Israel.

Additionally, he announced that he invited New Zealand's Foreign Minister to visit Israel.