Against the background of reports that he gave a "green light" to reach a settlement with Lebanon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu published a video this evening (Wednesday) in which he did not refer to the IDF's attacks in the north, and pledged to continue working for the return of the residents of the north home. "I cannot detail everything we are doing, but I can tell you one thing: we are determined to return our residents in the north safely to their homes," Netanyahu said. "We are dealing blows to Hezbollah that they did not imagine. We are doing it with strength, we are doing it with trickery. I promise you one thing - we will not rest until they return home."
As mentioned, Netanyahu's current announcement comes following the reports that the Prime Minister has given a "green light" to a new cease-fire initiative in the North, which the Biden administration is working on. American and European officials and diplomats said that over the past two days, the US discussed the idea with France, Israel, Lebanon and several other Arab countries. According to reports, the White House initiative may be published as early as today in an attempt to stop the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. On the "Sky News" network It was reported in Arabic that the American envoy Amos Hochstein is the one who will lead the negotiations to achieve a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Sources told the network that the draft to reduce the escalation includes a cease-fire for a period of four weeks.
It was also reported that in recent days, there has been political activity by the Americans with Netanyahu and the Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, the goal of which is to reach a settlement or a temporary ceasefire that will allow contacts. The Americans cannot speak directly with Hezbollah, therefore contacts are indirect with the Lebanese government and other parties, including the French and other Europeans. In the discourse there is also the involvement of the Iranians, who do not want to reach an all-out war.
"The goal is to achieve a break that will allow for the negotiation of a broader diplomatic agreement to prevent a wider war, allow displaced civilians to return to their homes on both sides of the border, and provide renewed momentum to Gaza. A cease-fire deal and hostages," a source with direct knowledge of the plans told Axios. "If Hamas sees that Hezbollah is giving a chance for a diplomatic solution, it could encourage Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to move towards an agreement"
