World Leaders Again Tout Hope of Israel-Hezbollah Cease-fire

Deutsche Welle

Publish : 26 Nov 2024, 09:26 AM

Photo: AFP

Key Points:

World leaders express hope of imminent cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah
Israeli media report the country's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss latest proposal

Israel's ambassador to the US, Mike Herzog, told Israeli Army Radio on Monday a cease-fire deal between Israel and Lebanon-based Islamist group Hezbollah could be reached "within days." According to Herzog, there are still "points to finalize." He said any deal requires the government’s agreement, but that "we are close to a deal" that can be sealed "within days."

The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is a Shiite political party in Lebanon as well as a militant organization. It is supported by Iran. Both wings are deemed a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries, whereas the EU lists only its armed wing as a terror group.

France calls on Israel, Hezbollah to agree to cease-fire
France's Elysee Palace said "significant progress" had been made in talks on a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah. The French presidency urged both sides to seize "this opportunity as soon as possible."

"Discussions on a cease-fire along the Blue Line have made significant progress," Emmanuel Macron's office said. "We hope that the relevant parties will seize this opportunity as soon as possible."

According to Israeli media, the Cabinet was set to meet on Tuesday to discuss a new potential cease-fire deal with Hezbollah. Lebanese government officials in Beirut expressed optimism, but said the final decision rested with Israel.

It's not the first time such a deal has been reported as close in recent months, with the progress being hailed by the foreign governments trying to help broker it, but in past instances a deal did not emerge.

Western governments voice hope of cease-fire progress
Several governments on Monday suggested that a cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group was edging closer to being agreed. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a daily briefing on Monday: "We believe we've reached this point where we're close."

"We're not there yet. We believe that the trajectory of this is going in a very positive direction, but again nothing is done until everything is done, nothing is negotiated until everything is negotiated," he said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said there had been more momentum than in previous days. "We are currently discussing with our partners from the Gulf States and the Arab world how we can, in this situation, at least perhaps resolve one of the major challenges, the situation in Lebanon, and finally achieve a cease-fire," she said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made similar comments after the meeting of G7 foreign ministers, describing himself as "optimistic" for a deal.

Israel, Hezbollah bombardments continue
Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed 31 people across Lebanon. Israel's military said in statement they had struck approximately 25 Hezbollah "terror targets" in Nabatiyeh, Baalbek, the Bekaa Valley and southern Beirut.

The National News Agency (NNA), Lebanon's state-run media organization, added on Monday evening that "enemy warplanes launched strikes on (the) Haret Hreik and Shiyah" districts.

Lebanon's health ministry, while reporting the number of deceased on Monday, said most of the casualties came in the south with four people killed in the east. Meanwhile, Hezbollah increased the number of rockets fired across the border into Israel.

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