Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the Israeli army should level the southern suburb of Beirut in Lebanon to the ground [1, 2].
These remarks signal an escalation in rhetoric regarding the conflict in Lebanon and suggest a strategic shift toward permanent territorial acquisition. By linking military destruction to settlement goals, Ben-Gvir is advocating for a policy that would fundamentally alter the borders and demographics of the region.
Ben-Gvir made the comments Friday, framing the total destruction of the southern suburb as a necessary step in a larger security and political strategy [1, 2]. He tied these military objectives to a vision for establishing Israeli settlements within Lebanese territory [2, 4].
According to reports, the minister views the leveling of the suburb as a means of confronting what he described as security threats [2, 4]. This approach is paired with a wider ideological agenda involving the movement of populations across the region.
"We want settlement in Lebanon," Ben-Gvir said [2].
He further expanded on this vision by connecting the situation in Lebanon to the status of Palestinians in other territories. He said that there are plans for settlement in Lebanon and the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip [4].
While Ben-Gvir holds a high-ranking position in the government, his calls for the total demolition of urban areas in Beirut and the establishment of settlements in Lebanon represent an extreme wing of Israeli political thought. Some reports also indicate he has threatened the demolition of the grave of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam in Lebanon [2].
These statements come amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Lebanese forces, where the southern suburb of Beirut has long been a focal point of strategic and military interest [1, 2].
“We want settlement in Lebanon”
Ben-Gvir's statements reflect a hardline ideological push to transition from tactical military strikes to permanent territorial expansion. By explicitly linking the destruction of Beirut's southern suburb to settlement goals, he is promoting a policy of annexation and forced migration that deviates from standard diplomatic frameworks and international law.
