Israeli Cabinet to decide on return of northern residents as war goal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present a proposal to the Security Cabinet on Sunday to officially declare the return of northern residents to their homes as a formal war objective. 

Until now, this had not been classified as an official goal, despite Netanyahu's previous statements following the assassination of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

"The prime minister has long emphasized the critical need to safely return northern residents to their homes as a war objective, and this has been the de facto policy," the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

During the last Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu announced that this objective would soon be submitted for formal approval, a move that has received unanimous support from all Cabinet members.