Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Talks: Latest Updates

Israel and Lebanon are close to finalizing a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Hezbollah, according to senior officials from both Israel and the U.S., as reported by Axios.

The proposed deal includes the establishment of a U.S.-led oversight committee that will monitor the ceasefire’s implementation and handle any violations. The U.S. has agreed to provide Israel with assurances, including support for military actions against immediate threats originating from Lebanese territory, and actions to prevent the re-establishment of Hezbollah’s military presence near the border or the smuggling of heavy weapons.

Under the agreement, Israel would consult with the U.S. before taking any military action if Lebanon’s military fails to address such threats.

The talks were nearly concluded last Thursday, but the situation was complicated when the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The timing coincided with Netanyahu’s meeting with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, who has been mediating between Israel and Lebanon for the past year. Netanyahu expressed frustration, which intensified after the French Foreign Ministry confirmed that France would comply with the court’s ruling. This development created tension, as Lebanon had insisted on France’s inclusion in the oversight committee.

To resolve the issue, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron. Biden expressed support for Netanyahu’s position, stating that it would be difficult to broker a deal while France was committed to arresting an Israeli head of state. Macron responded by reiterating France’s legal obligations but later issued a statement to reduce the tension.

On Monday, Lebanon’s Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab announced that Israel had agreed to include France in the monitoring committee, following Lebanon’s insistence. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Israel on this matter.

Meanwhile, Hochstein warned Netanyahu through Israeli Ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, that he might withdraw as a mediator if Israel did not move forward with the deal soon. Israeli officials held a meeting on Sunday evening to discuss the ceasefire negotiations, where they decided to pursue the agreement. A senior Israeli official indicated that an announcement could be made this week, although several details remain unresolved.

The U.S. officials involved noted that while a deal is close, it has not yet been finalized. Netanyahu would need to bring the agreement to a vote in Israel’s Security Cabinet before it can be implemented.

Ambassador Mike Herzog also expressed confidence that a ceasefire could be reached within days, acknowledging that while some details still need to be settled, the deal is imminent.

On Monday, Dan Shapiro, the Pentagon’s top Middle East policy official, was scheduled to arrive in Israel for meetings with Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz.