Israeli Source Doubts Lebanon Deal While US Official Remains Optimistic

An Israeli source involved in the Lebanese ceasefire negotiations expressed skepticism about reaching a deal soon, as reported by CNN. The source acknowledged progress but highlighted that Hezbollah’s refusal to accept Israel’s demand to strike Hezbollah targets if the ceasefire is violated could hinder the agreement. This clause is crucial for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to gain cabinet approval for the deal.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, from the far-right, emphasized that maintaining complete operational freedom for the Israeli military in southern Lebanon is non-negotiable. He stated that post-war, Israel must have operational freedom in both Gaza and Lebanon, rejecting any arrangement lacking substantive enforcement.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in an interview with Al Araby TV, dismissed reports of Israeli military operational freedom in southern Lebanon as speculative, stating he had not seen such a clause in the proposal. Speaker Nabih Berri, leader of the Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement and a key figure in the talks, told Asharq al-Awsat that the U.S. proposal he received did not include this demand, which he deemed unacceptable.

A Lebanese official told CNN that the proposal does not mention Israel’s right to continue striking Lebanon post-truce. Hezbollah has agreed to separate its conflict with Israel from the war in Gaza, previously linking its attacks to a Gaza ceasefire. Multiple Lebanese officials stated that Hezbollah agreed to this separation before its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in late September.

Mikati mentioned ongoing contact with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s team. Another Lebanese source informed CNN that Trump has endorsed Hochstein’s ceasefire efforts, increasing the likelihood of success. A senior U.S. official confirmed Israel’s readiness to finalize a deal, emphasizing that an agreement with Hezbollah would signal to Hamas Israel’s determination to secure hostages held in Gaza.

The U.S. official noted the stalemate, with Hamas refusing a ceasefire that returns Israeli hostages and Hezbollah committed to fighting until the Gaza conflict ends. They mentioned that pressuring Hezbollah is necessary to achieve a Lebanon deal, ensuring Hezbollah cannot rebuild its military infrastructure along the Israeli border.