Israel and Hezbollah are nearing a ceasefire
The German Press Agency learned from government circles that the cabinet’s approval of the agreement negotiated under US mediation was “probable”. Although the right-wing extremist Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called a ceasefire a “serious mistake,” he, unlike in the past, did not threaten to leave the government with his party.
Lebanese government sources in Beirut also expressed optimism; However, they emphasized that the decision now rests with Israel. The communications director of the US National Security Council, John Kirby, also expressed cautious optimism: an agreement on a ceasefire is close. He did not want to comment on details in order not to jeopardize the chance of an agreement. In the evening, France said that talks about a ceasefire had made significant progress.
According to the reports, the agreement could be aimed at more than just a temporary ceasefire. Instead, it could also be about a permanent end to the fighting through a formal ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal and the Times of Israel Citing insiders, report a 60-day implementation period that should allow Israel’s military to withdraw. The Lebanese army should also be stationed in the border area with Israel to prevent Hezbollah fighters from gaining a foothold there again.
However, it is unclear how likely a longer-term ceasefire is. The Times of Israel also quoted an Israeli government official who stressed that Israel accepted a cessation of hostilities, but not an end to the war against the Hezbollah militia. It is not known how long the ceasefire will last. “It could be a month, it could be a year,” the Israeli official told the newspaper.
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