Far-right minister Smotrich threatens war, re-occupation of south Lebanon amid escalation Hezbollah tensions

Extremist Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for war and re-occupation of southern Lebanon amid increased border tensions with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The far-right minister claimed that there was there was "no way to restore security to the residents of the north without a war that will destroy Hezbollah, that will reoccupy southern Lebanon, and that will return the security strip that is today in our territory back to the territory of Lebanon," in a speech in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Monday.

Smotrich, the head of the Religious Zionism party said that the "people of Israel are ready for this... as they see with their own eyes the results of the escape and withdrawal".

"It started in Oslo, then the flight from Lebanon and Gush Katif and the thought that it is possible to gather behind walls, fences, and sensors and build on international guarantees," he added, referring to the failed 1993 Oslo Accords with the Palestinians, the 2000 Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and Israel's 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, which saw the Gush Katif settlement bloc abandoned.

Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000, after the Israeli army invaded the country in 1982. 

Smotrich’s comments come as Israel accused Hezbollah of being behind the strike which killed 12 children as they played football in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights on Saturday.

Hezbollah had denied responsibility for the attack, and has pointed the finger at Israel.

Smotrich, as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were berated by Majdal Shams’ residents when they visited the site of the strike on Monday, with funerals for the victims still ongoing.

In videos shared online, locals could be heard calling Smotrich a "war criminal" and a "murderer", and ordered him to leave the site.

The far-right minister has made similar calls throughout his political career, which have intensified during Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and cross-border fighting with Hezbollah.

In May this year Smotrich said Israel must forcefully push Hezbollah away from the border, and establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. He added that "a public ultimatum must be issued to Hezbollah to completely stop firing missiles and drones at Israel and withdraw all forces beyond Lebanon’s Litani River".

Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in near-daily cross-border fighting one day since the devastating war on Gaza, which has so far killed at least 39,400 Palestinians, began last October.

Over 500 Lebanese, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also civilians and journalists have been killed.  22 Israeli soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah has prompted thousands of Lebanese to evacuate their homes across the border, triggering concerns over the economic, as Lebanon continues to deal with a severe financial crisis.