United States President Joe Biden and his administration are working to establish a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah while also reviving negotiations for a hostage agreement and an end to the war in Gaza, according to several Israeli and Lebanese media reports on Wednesday.
This American initiative, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken with the support of France and Arab states, aims to prevent a large-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Iran is also reportedly involved, preferring to avoid a full-blown war.
The Israeli government is said to be leading discussions with Washington, which is in talks with the Lebanese government and other officials acting as intermediaries for Hezbollah.
However, Hezbollah must accept the conditions of a ceasefire before a formal truce in Gaza can be reached.
Since this is a temporary ceasefire intended to facilitate discussions for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the mediating countries, particularly the US and France, hope that the Iran-backed* group will agree to this new framework.
During the proposed temporary ceasefire, negotiations will also take place for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and to end the war in Gaza, as well as for agreements between Israel and Lebanon to avoid a resumption of hostilities in the north.
Lebanese and Western diplomats, cited by Reuters, stated that the details of the initiative were being finalized at the UN General Assembly.
Meanwhile, President Biden warned on Wednesday of the risk of a “wider war” in the Middle East, as his administration struggles to negotiate a ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border.
“A full-scale war is possible,” he said in an interview with ABC.
The US leader, however, believes that “the possibility of an agreement that could fundamentally change the entire region” still exists.
Israeli Skepticism
Some Israeli media outlets remain skeptical about the chances of success for the US initiative, arguing that if Hezbollah refuses an agreement, it will legitimize Israel’s military operation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that Israel would not cease its military operations against Hezbollah until residents in the north of the country could return home safely.
According to information obtained by MTV, Israel is demanding at least two preliminary conditions for any agreement. The first is the withdrawal of soldiers beyond the Litani River and establishing a 7-kilometer demilitarized zone in southern Lebanon. The second involves the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and all other non-state groups in Lebanon.
“We are hitting Hezbollah with blows it never imagined. We are doing it with all our strength, we are doing it with cunning. I promise you one thing: we will not rest until they [the northern residents] are home,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Earlier in the evening, Israeli Army Chief Herzi Halevi instructed his soldiers to prepare for a possible ground entry into Lebanon.
