This is John Batstra, conversation with Jonathan Spire of the Middle East Forum about the Hezbollah threat, not just rockets,

but also the possibility of an October 7th along the northern border if and when Israeli citizens who have been evacuated

and out of place for eight months return.

It's unacceptable to allow Hezbollah to come right up to the border

and threaten citizens and threaten worse.

What is to be done?

Jonathan is very clear about the choices for the IDF, for the Jerusalem government. Is Jonathan Spyron the threat from the north and

what must be done? No, my view is that it can not be. Yeah, you're absolutely

right, John and your characterization. I mean I was up on the northern border being, you know,

accompanying an army group a couple of months ago,

and we went to Roshanikra on the northwestern side of the border area.

And sure, the people who were living there there are houses just you know four or five

yards from the border fence and Hezbollah men were coming down to that border fence prior to October 7th so the prospect for

October 7th or frankly if one can imagine even something like that

but on a larger scale is very very real the northern border so residents of the

north of Israel's north simply will not come back while that remains a possibility

I personally do not believe that that can be changed through diplomacy frankly

and I'll be clear about it I think that Israel either accept that situation

or it carries out unilateral military action to try and change it.

There isn't really any other possibilities on the table in my view.