Israel Grants the U.S. a ‘Few Weeks’ Timeline to Seek a Diplomatic Resolution with Lebanon

Israel has communicated to the Biden administration its desire for Hezbollah forces to be repositioned approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) away from the border in a proposed diplomatic agreement aimed at easing tensions with Lebanon. This information comes from three sources within the Israeli and U.S. governments, as reported by Axios, a U.S. news outlet.

Efforts to negotiate such a diplomatic resolution are being led by President Joe Biden’s senior adviser, Amos Hochstein, along with other U.S. officials. However, these efforts have yet to yield significant progress.

During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed their desire for a solution that would move Hezbollah’s forces to a distance where they cannot launch attacks on Israeli settlements along the border or conduct raids similar to Hamas’ action on October 7. They emphasized that Hezbollah should not return to the border positions that Israel has destroyed in the past two months.

Austin was informed by Netanyahu and Gallant that Israel is prepared to give diplomatic efforts a chance but expects to see tangible progress within the coming weeks.

Following the onset of the war in Gaza, Hezbollah began targeting Israeli military outposts along the border, launching rockets and drones into northern Israel. As a precautionary measure against potential Hezbollah attacks, Israel has evacuated tens of thousands of civilians from villages and towns near the border.

The Israeli government has publicly stated that for residents to safely return to their homes, a significant change in the situation is required, either through diplomatic means or military action.