Israel-Hezbollah Ceasfire Deal Imminent, Says Israeli Ambassador to US
A cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could be just days away, Bloomberg reports, citing Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog.
His statement on Monday follows a renewed push for a truce by a senior US envoy, underscoring the potential for a swift resolution to the two-month conflict.
Herzog’s optimistic assessment, while echoing similar pronouncements from other Israeli and US officials in recent weeks, doesn’t guarantee Hezbollah’s acceptance. The Iran-backed group, significantly weakened by Israeli military operations including air strikes and ground incursions, still retains the capacity to launch rocket attacks and resist Israeli ground forces.
Sunday witnessed a significant escalation, with Hezbollah firing at least 250 rockets and drones into Israel, injuring several civilians. Israel responded with retaliatory air strikes on targets in Lebanon. The conflict, which began in October after Hezbollah joined Hamas’s assault on Israel, has left thousands dead and displaced over a million people in Lebanon. Approximately 50 Israeli soldiers have also been killed in the fighting.
US Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein conducted shuttle diplomacy last week, aiming to secure a cease-fire before President Biden’s term ends. A US-drafted proposal, reportedly accepted by the Israeli government, involves a 60-day suspension of hostilities, contingent on Hezbollah forces withdrawing north of the Litani River (approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border). The proposal also calls for increased deployment of the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon to monitor Hezbollah activity.
A key point of contention remains Israel’s demand to retain the right to resume strikes in the event of Hezbollah violations, a condition that Lebanon and Hezbollah have resisted. The Israeli government prioritizes enabling the return of northern Israeli residents displaced by the fighting. While talks between Israel and Hamas regarding a Gaza cease-fire remain stalled, there is little indication that a Lebanon truce will significantly influence the situation in Gaza. Hezbollah, initially insistent on a simultaneous Gaza cease-fire, has reportedly softened its stance following battlefield losses.
