The Sovereignty Movement’s “Zoom Out” Forum hosted Prof. Azaria for a Zoom session discussing the feasibility of Israeli conquest, settlement, and sovereignty in Lebanon.
Prof. Amos Azaria, leader of the"Ouri Tsafon" ( “Awaken the North”) movement, which advocates for Israeli settlement and sovereignty in southern Lebanon, participated in the “Zoom Out” forum of the Sovereignty Movement, delivering a lecture followed by a discussion with members of the movement.
Opening his talk, titled “The Good Mountain and the Lebanon: Settlement as the Solution,” Prof. Azaria provided background on his movement, which was established in memory of Israel Sokol הי״ד, who was killed in the Gaza Strip. Israel's dream was to restore a Jewish presence in Mount Lebanon. During the week of mourning following his death, the “Awaken the North” movement was founded.
Prof. Azaria noted that Israeli presence and control in Mount Lebanon as a necessary solution is already supported by a number of Knesset members. Two of them, Members of Knesset Tal and Fogel, view settlement in Mount Lebanon as a necessity and a response to Israel’s security and political reality. Azaria emphasized that over the years Israel has withdrawn from Mount Lebanon six times, and each time it became clear that there was no alternative but to return in order to eliminate the terrorist infrastructures that had developed there. The resulting conclusion, he argued, is the need for Jewish settlement as a step that enables the security establishment to carry out its duties, while instilling in the army the understanding that this is Israeli territory—not a policing mission on foreign soil.
He also pointed to the contribution of civilian settlement to military effectiveness: an army operating in a friendly, populated area is not confined to fixed outposts. Another consideration is that military forces can be ordered to withdraw at any moment by a future government—something far less likely if Israeli civilian communities are established on the ground.
Above all, Prof. Azaria stressed that this is a region historically belonging to the people of Israel, referring to the biblical tribal inheritances of Asher and Naphtali extending to the Awali River. He cited historical connections linking the Jewish people to the area, from the time of the Prophet Elijah, references in the Mishnah, writings of Maimonides, and testimonies regarding the heritage of the Jewish community of Hasbaya, long considered part of the Land of Israel. He also mentioned land purchases in the area as an integral part of the Land of Israel, as well as statements by David Ben-Gurion, who viewed the territory up to the Litani River as part of the Land of Israel—the northern Galilee.
Prof. Azaria further elaborated on the advantages of setting Israel’s border along the Litani River rather than the current boundary. He provided a topographical overview of Lebanon and its rivers, along with a basic analysis of Lebanon’s population distribution, noting that the majority is Shiite and therefore highly hostile to Israel. In his overall assessment, he explained why the Zahrani River might be considered a preferable border between Israel and Lebanon.
Returning to Israel’s military history, Azaria reviewed the operations undertaken since the state’s founding to confront threats from the north. As noted, the IDF has entered Lebanon six times and withdrawn six times, only to be required to return again.
Regarding the activities of his movement, “Awaken the North,” Prof. Azaria described a map the movement created, placing numerous proposed Israeli communities in the area up to the Litani River. The model guiding the movement is the Golan Heights model, which includes stages beginning with the departure of the hostile population, preventing its return, followed by settlement, sovereignty, and expansion.
He also mentioned tree-planting events beyond the current border fence, overnight camping in the area, and public advocacy and awareness efforts, including conferences and Zoom sessions that his organization has done. Initially, he noted, these activities sounded strange and unrealistic, but over time they have increasingly come to be viewed as more normative, alongside growing attention from the Arab side, which has been covering these events.
In the second part of the zoom session, Prof. Azaria responded to questions from participants, who sought information about the practical steps required, the feasibility of such an Israeli move in Lebanon from the perspective of international law, and how the Lebanese government might be expected to respond to such a development.