Israel, long a central player in the Middle East, has reiterated its commitment to peace while emphasizing the need for strength and vigilance amid ongoing regional challenges.
Israel, long a central player in the Middle East, has reiterated its commitment to peace while emphasizing the need for strength and vigilance amid ongoing regional challenges.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, H.E Roey Gilad, the Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone said, “We are based in the Middle East for a long time, and we are looking for peace with all the fronts.”
“Yet, unfortunately, history taught us to be suspicious. In Hebrew, there is a proverb—it comes from the Talmud—that says, ‘He who wants peace should be ready for a war.’ This is our philosophy: unless we are strong and deter our enemies, I don’t think we’re going to see any peace in our times.”
Reflecting on recent conflicts, Ambassador Gilad highlighted the toll on Israeli forces. “During the campaign in Gaza, we’ve lost more than 400 soldiers, on top of the 1,200 that were killed at the beginning of the war. These losses include both citizens and soldiers.”
Despite these challenges, Ambassador Gilad emphasizes Israel’s resilience.
“On the 7th of October 2023, Israel suffered a very severe blow—something we didn’t face as a people since the Holocaust and as a State since 1948. We were quite devastated,” he said.
However, he underscored Israel’s recovery over the past year, stating, “In a little more than a year, we have actually managed to change the picture completely, to change the map completely. If we were down on the 7th of October, actually now, I believe we are having the upper hand. Hamas was beaten strongly.”
Northern Border Challenges
Addressing the situation along its northern border, Ambassador Gilad outlined concerns regarding Hezbollah and Lebanon. “On the northern side of our border, we expect now the Lebanese army and UNIFIL to redeploy. Redeployment was done, but it’s not finished yet. Israel has set a 60-day timeline for the Lebanese army to fully redeploy between the border and the Litani River. Failure to comply, he said, may hinder further Israeli withdrawal.”
“We can say very clearly that by us beating Hezbollah, we have helped the Lebanese to open a new chapter. This is the chance for Lebanon to reclaim its sovereignty,” he asserted.
He noted Lebanon’s struggles with the influence of terrorists, stating, “Lebanon, like unfortunately other states in the Middle East, was hijacked by terrorists. [It] was hijacked by Hezbollah, and now Hezbollah has been beaten. This is the time for the Lebanese government to reclaim its sovereignty.”
Ambassador Gilad also expressed cautious optimism for Lebanon’s future, mentioning the election of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as a promising development.
“With some luck, we can see a new chapter in the political life of Lebanon,” he said.
Put pressure on Iran
Ambassador Gilad also urged Africa and Ghana to join international pressure to end Iran’s ideological and political ambitions around the world.
He said, “Iran is an international problem and I expect the new government in Ghana to be very strict with the Iran government. As a State that is a friend of Israel, we expect Ghana to be part of the international pressure trying to bring an end to its military, ideological and political ambitions.”
Ambassador Gilad cautioned that the fight against Hamas is not yet over but expressed confidence in Israel’s progress.
“Hamas is still on the ground, but we believe that their ability to be an army of terror is not there anymore,” he added.