Israel’s Lebanon endgame remains elusive despite ceasefire deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was compelled by President Donald Trump to accept a new ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, but without a clear long-term strategy, he may be inclined to resume hostilities at the first opportunity.
The US State Department's announcement on Wednesday that Israel and Lebanon had reached a framework for a ceasefire agreement has renewed questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy in the war.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the agreement on Thursday, saying it fulfills the government's promise to provide security for residents of northern Israel. Others, however, say the deal was imposed on Netanyahu by the United States and that the prime minister would have preferred to continue the confrontation with Hezbollah throughout his election campaign.
Notably, Katz made no mention of the agreement's provision for a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from selected sites in southern Lebanon, enabling the Lebanese army to take control. Instead, he stressed that Israeli forces would remain in the area and continue operational activities.
Analysts say that while the government appears committed to the framework agreement, it has yet to articulate a clear long-term strategy for achieving its stated objectives — namely, dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities and guaranteeing security for residents of northern Israel.
