MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud), Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was asked by Arutz-7's Haggai Segal today whether he is in favor of a strong retaliation against Hizbullah at this time. His response:
"I was against the withdrawal [from Lebanon] at the time [three years ago], and I still think it was a mistake. In any event, we certainly have to stop being the punching bag of the Middle East, and we have to respond appropriately - not just on a case-by-case basis, but in a way that will make it quite clear to Syria and Lebanon..."
A-7: "But perhaps Sharon fears that Hizbullah will fire at our refineries and attack throughout northern Israel?"
MK Shteinitz: "First of all, unfortunately, Hizbullah in fact has this power, which it did not have before we withdrew from Lebanon. Secondly, that power will last it for only 2-3 days - not that that is acceptable, but the only other alternative if we continue with our local responses and complaints to the UN and the US is that Hizbullah's terrorism and anti-aircraft fire and katyushas and the like will just get stronger. If Israel makes it clear that its only interest is to maintain quiet and not cause escalation, this basically means that Hizbullah has even more of a free hand than it had until now."
Asked if Israel has the ability to wipe out Hizbullah, Shteinitz said,
"Hizbullah numbers several hundred [terrorists], and to wipe them out would be possible - but not easy. It would entail an air attack and possibly ground forces as well. But the truth is that Hizbullah is not really the main issue; it's Syria, of which Hizbullah is really just an arm. Syria gives it support and weapons, and Hizbullah in fact only exists at all because Syria ordered the disarming of all militias in Lebanon except for Hizbullah. We must understand that our desire for restraint and to prevent an escalation in the entire region is being watched very closely by the Palestinians - and if they see it working for Hizbullah, they will copy it and use the same anti-aircraft fire at Jerusalem and Kfar Saba and Sderot."