“Awarding a campaign medal to those who fought during IDF’s 18-year presence in Lebanon is right, proper and fitting for soldiers from the Lebanon generation, many of whom were killed and injured and carry the mental scars.”

“The provocation, the terrorist attacks against Israel and the turning of Lebanon into a Hizbollah stronghold with Iranian support will not go unanswered.”

President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin spoke today, Sunday 7 June 2020 / 15 Sivan 5780, at the official memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Lebanon War, held at Har Herzl. Minister with responsibility for civilian and social affairs and for bereaved families at the Ministry of Defense Michael Biton also spoke.

“The war we fought for the peace of the Galilee was a war not of our choosing, a war that aimed to end many long years of life in fear and intolerable terrorism,” said the president at the beginning of his remarks. “Almost four decades have passed since then. The peace we yearned for with Lebanon has still not come. Hizbollah continues to strengthen its position in Lebanon, growing stronger and acquiring weapons to attack the State of Israel. Now, as then, we are determined to attack the terror cells, its operatives and those who send them. We have no quarrel with the Lebanese people. But so long as Hizbollah is part of Lebanon, so long as Hizbollah is part of the Lebanese government, so longa as Hizbollah exploits the Lebanese people on behalf of foreign interests, Lebanon and its government bear sovereign responsibility for all Hizbollah actions. We will do anything possible to prevent war. But the government of Lebanon bears responsibility for any terrorist action that comes from its territory. We will not hesitate to strike the enemy, anywhere, we will not be deterred from conflict and we will not tolerate any threat to our lives. We are strong. We are prepared. We are determined. The provocation, the terrorist attacks against Israel and the turning of Lebanon into a Hizbollah stronghold with Iranian support will not go unanswered.”

“We are talking about the possibility of awarding a campaign medal to those who fought in Lebanon from the end of the First Lebanon War until the withdrawal,” said the president. “Awarding a campaign medal to those who fought during IDF’s 18-year presence in Lebanon is right, proper and fitting for soldiers from the Lebanon generation, many of whom were killed and injured and carry the mental scars.”

At the end of his remarks, the president spoke to the bereaved families, saying, “We remember the First Lebanon War because of the heroism, the dedication, the nobility and the tough combat. You, bereaved families, parents, spouses, children, IDF orphans, brothers and sisters, paid the ultimate price. It is a price that has no measure. There is no healing for your pain. We remain committed to doing everything we can to find any traces of information about those missing in action, and to bring them home for burial in Israel. May the memories of our sons be etched forever in the heart of the nation. May their souls be bound in the bond of life.”