Israel’s escalations ‘do not inspire optimism’ about peace deal
It’s very difficult to see an agreement coming together in the near future. We’ve just heard from the caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. He released a statement following a series of meetings he’s held throughout the day here in the Lebanese capital.
He said he believes these continuing Israeli escalations do not inspire optimism in the near future. … He said the intense air strikes have to stop in order for negotiations to begin.
This is something that is very much a sticking point at the moment. The Israeli military have said in the past weeks that they are going to negotiate under fire, and that is something that the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have said they are not willing to do.
What we’ve seen on the ground here in Lebanon in the past few hours is the latest Israeli assault on the southern city of Tyre and its surrounding areas with the Israeli military issuing at least eight evacuation threats for various parts of the Tyre governorate and then carrying out at least eight air strikes simultaneously over the past hour.
‘Difficult to envision end to conflict’ in Lebanon
At least 10 air strikes have targeted the historical coastal city of Tyre and its surrounding areas.
Israel has said in the past that it is targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and personnel, but this city in the south is a very historic city and is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s the third time in just over a week that Israel has targeted this area.
Also on Thursday, another historical city, Baalbek in the eastern part of Lebanon, came under attack yet again in at least four air strikes. Israel issued forced evacuation threats for the people in and around that area, which is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The caretaker prime minister here, Najib Mikati, was much more optimistic on Wednesday evening [about a ceasefire] than he is today.
He said the attacks by Israel on these historic cities are tantamount to war crimes and it is very difficult to envision an end to the conflict while Israel is continuing to increase its attacks.
Israeli mayor in the north says ceasefire could ‘rehabilitate Hezbollah’
Agricultural areas along Israel’s border are closed military zones patrolled by Israeli troops. For the few residents remaining in the area, the thump of missile interceptions by Israel’s Iron Dome system and the constant wailing of sirens warning of incoming rocket fire punctuate daily life.
Nonetheless, local officials in Israel largely support continuing a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
Amos Hochstein, special adviser to US President Joe Biden on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, has been pushing for a ceasefire deal to address the fighting with Hezbollah.
“If the Israeli government will accede to an agreement that was brought by Amos Hochstein … we will not have it because for us this is rehabilitating Hezbollah again on our borders,” said Eitan Davidi, the mayor of the northern town of Margaliot, where air raid sirens sounded repeatedly Thursday.
“Hezbollah is firing towards civilians and farmers and hit innocent farmers that are working in the field.”
It seems Hezbollah doesn't need to rehabilitate, they're doing much more damage now than before Israel escalated the tit for tat with Hezbollah. But true, without a ceasefire in Gaza, Hezbollah likely will try to keep pressure on Northern Israel.
US says ‘good progress’ made towards Lebanon ceasefire
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says negotiators have made “good progress” towards a deal that would bring a ceasefire in Israel’s attack on Lebanon.
“Based on my recent trip to the region and the work that’s ongoing right now, we have made good progress on those understandings,” Blinken told reporters.
An understanding of requirements for the effective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is the basis for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, he added.
“It’s important to make sure we have clarity, both from Lebanon and from Israel, about what would be required under 1701 to get its effective implementation,” said Blinken.
Of course Blinken states the opposite and Hezbollah isn't even included in the negotiations?
