‘Connection’ between Smotrich demands and West Bank assault
Questions continue to be raised about whether Israel will withdraw its soldiers from southern Lebanon by Sunday, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
Meron Rapoport, an editor at the Israeli news site Local Call, says Netanyahu has no interest in removing troops from Lebanon, and it’s unclear if the ceasefire in Gaza will last despite the Israeli public and military desiring that.
“There’s great political pressure by the right-wing – especially Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – demanding that Israel go to war when this first stage ends in about 40 days,” Rapoport told Al Jazeera.
He also noted the return of “greater violence” in the occupied West Bank.
“It has surely to do with the political situation and Smotrich’s demands. It was approved by the government to expand the operation in the West Bank, otherwise, Smotrich threatened to leave and then the government falls,” said Rapoport.
“So it does seem there’s a direct connection between the two.”
Netanyahu says Israel has a right to keep fighting in Gaza
The prime minister says Israel has a right to continue military attacks in Gaza if it deems negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas to be “fruitless”.
Israel has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians and wounded over 111,000 others since its war on the enclave began in October 2023.
Israel seeking to push back Lebanon withdrawal pledge
The Israeli ambassador to the United States said Israel is in discussions with the administration of US President Donald Trump to convince them to extend the deadline for at least another month. So Israel officials are talking about staying in Lebanon, which would be in violation of the ceasefire agreement to pull out by January 26.
Lebanese officials have expressed concern in recent days, saying Israeli troops need to withdraw. Hezbollah is hinting that it’s going to resume military action. It says if Israeli soldiers remain, they will be an occupying force and there will be “resistance”.
Whether or not those threats are serious – considering that Hezbollah has been severely weakened during Israel’s war – is open to question. This uncertainty raises a lot of questions because Lebanon is trying to enter a new phase with new leadership.
