Israel commits to ‘long weeks’ of talks for Hezbollah deal

### Senior Israeli Official: Diplomatic Efforts with Hezbollah to be Prioritized

A high-ranking Israeli official announced on Tuesday that Israel and the United States will spend an unspecified number of weeks attempting to reach a new agreement with Hezbollah to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon border. This comes amid escalating tensions and the fear of a full-scale war.

**Escalating Conflict:**
Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Lebanese group Hezbollah has intensified in recent weeks. Hezbollah began launching attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas following the Palestinian militant group’s attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered the war in Gaza. In response, Israel has conducted airstrikes and artillery shelling, leading to significant displacement on both sides of the border.

**Diplomatic Focus:**
Speaking at the Herzliya Conference, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi stated, “We will now dedicate long weeks … in an attempt to reach an arrangement” along the border. Hanegbi suggested that Hezbollah might be looking for a way to de-escalate as Israel’s military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah become less intensive. He emphasized the preference for a diplomatic solution, saying, “If there is no arrangement through diplomatic means, everybody understands that an arrangement is required through other means. But currently, we prefer to focus on the diplomatic campaign.”

**U.S. Involvement:**
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has been actively involved, meeting with leaders in both Lebanon and Israel the previous week to help ease tensions. Despite these efforts, Hezbollah has maintained that it will continue its attacks until there is a cease-fire in Gaza.

**Conclusion:**
The situation remains tense, with both diplomatic and military strategies on the table. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether a peaceful resolution can be achieved or if the conflict will escalate further.

This summary encapsulates the current efforts and strategic considerations of both Israel and the U.S. in dealing with Hezbollah and the broader implications for the region’s stability.