Netanyahu says discussion of US-led cease-fire initiative in Lebanon to continue

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that discussion of a US-led cease-fire initiative for Lebanon will continue in the coming days.

This statement follows earlier remarks by Netanyahu showing reluctance toward a proposed international cease-fire led by Washington, which would involve a temporary 21-day cessation of hostilities in Lebanon while negotiations for a permanent cease-fire take place. The cease-fire, however, would not extend to Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office said that “earlier this week, the US shared with Israel its intention to put forward, together with other international and regional partners, a ceasefire proposal in Lebanon.”

“Our teams met (Thursday, Sept. 26) to discuss the US initiative and how we can advance the shared goal of returning people safely to their homes. We will continue those discussions in the coming days,” it added.

Netanyahu’s government has faced internal opposition to the cease-fire proposal.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to withdraw from the coalition if a permanent cease-fire agreement is reached in Lebanon.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism Party, and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli from Netanyahu’s Likud party also criticized the cease-fire plan, warning it would give Hezbollah time to regroup and strengthen.

On Thursday, a joint statement from 12 countries and organizations, including the US and France, called for a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah to allow for diplomatic efforts. However, the statement did not include Gaza, despite Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah repeatedly linking a cease-fire in Lebanon to Israel halting its ongoing war in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly a year.

Israel has pounded Lebanon since Monday morning, killing at least 677 people and injuring over 2,500 others, according to Lebanese Health Ministry figures.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 41,500 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last October.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of spreading the Gaza conflict regionally.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi