Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United States Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein that Israel values US support, but will do “what is necessary” to tackle Hezbollah’s threats, adding that “fundamental change” was needed on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Hochstein also met with senior officials in Israel including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The envoy clarified to his counterparts that Washington does not see that a broader conflict in Lebanon will help return Israeli residents of the north to their homes, according to a report from Haaretz.
An escalation in fighting could expand into a regional conflict, Hochstein said, adding that Washington remains committed to a diplomatic solution between Israel and Lebanon, with or without a deal in Gaza.
Gallant told Hochstein that the only way to return Israel’s northern residents to their homes is a military operation. He added that time had run out to engage in diplomatic negotiations with Hezbollah, which has threatened to continue attacking Israel until a ceasefire with Hamas is reached.
He also presented Israeli army military options against Hezbollah to Hochstein and his staff.
Gallant’s statement to Hochstein was even stronger than his warning to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin earlier on Monday, in which he also said time was running out on a diplomatic solution.
This statement came hours after rumors had surfaced that Netanyahu wanted to replace Gallant as defense minister, for allegedly being too “lukewarm” on a major military operation against Hezbollah.
