Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Jo Biden, US President-elect Donald Trump (Photo: Shuterstock, Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
Thanks to U.S. mediation, Israel and Lebanon are reportedly coming closer to the end of their fighting across the border, according to media Sunday evening media reports in Israel. Ynet News reported that U.S. President Joe Biden’s special envoy to the region, Amos Hochstein, has exchanged drafts for a ceasefire deal between the two governments in Jerusalem and Beirut.
Unnamed officials quoted in the article claimed that chances to reach an agreement seem “good,” especially since all parties involved understand that both the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump would like to see the war ends before Inauguration Day, January 20.
Earlier this week, Lebanon’s Murr Television (MTV) channel reported that Trump spoke with Hochstein and told him, “Go and finish your work and make a deal with Lebanon.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday that he has spoken to President-elect Trump three times in recent days.
“These were very good and important talks designed to further enhance the steadfast bond between Israel and the US. We see eye-to-eye on the Iranian threat in all its aspects, and on the dangers they reflect. We also see the great opportunities facing Israel, in the area of peace and its expansion, and in other areas,” he said.
Netanyahu’s top advisor, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C. on Monday. He is slated to meet with White House officials to discuss the ceasefire terms for the northern front and with officials from the incoming Trump administration. Last week, Dermer reportedly paid a visit to Moscow to examine Russia’s potential involvement in shaping the agreement.
According to Israel’s Channel 12 News senior diplomatic correspondent Amit Segal, the deal underway will see Hezbollah withdrawing beyond the Litani River (18 miles north of Lebanon’s border with Israel), as per UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The IDF will be able to remain in southern Lebanon for a period of 60 days in order to guarantee that Lebanon’s army is fulfilling its side of the agreement – dismantling Hezbollah’s terror infrastructure in the area and inside Lebanon’s southern villages.
At the end of the 60 days, Israeli forces will be required to pull out entirely from Lebanon’s territory and go back to what is known as the Blue Line. Israel will still maintain the freedom to operate in southern Lebanon, in case there are any ceasefire violations on behalf of Hezbollah.
Segal reported that Russia’s role will be to provide assurances that the territory of Syria will not be used for the transfer of arms from Iran to Hezbollah. In exchange, the U.S. will provide Russian companies operating in Syria relief from sanctions.
If a ceasefire deal is not reached, the IDF has already prepared plans to expand the operation in Lebanon to further targeting Hezbollah strongholds and infrastructure, including in villages located deeper within its territory.
