Revealed: What is blocking the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah? | World News

Diplomats and other officials say ceasefire talks to end the war between the two countries have some sticking points Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, although conditions for an agreement appear ripe.

The Israeli military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders but continues to fire missiles at Israel. Tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated across the border months ago are pressing their government to help them return home. And the world wants to stop the spread of regional conflicts after more than a year of conflict.

Israel struck the center of Beirut over the weekend, following a US mediator’s latest visit to the region. Hezbollah As each applied pressure to reach an agreement, he responded with the biggest barrage he had seen in weeks.

Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, starting the war in Gaza.

Two months ago, Israel launched a large-scale bombardment of Lebanon and then invaded by land. More than 3,500 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Lebanon.

More than 70 people were killed in Israel, including 40 civilians. Additionally, more than 50 Israeli soldiers were killed in the ground attack.

Here’s a look at the proposal and its conflicting points.

Beginning of the proposed two-month ceasefire

The proposal under discussion To end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an initial two-month ceasefire was called for, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and end Hezbollah’s armed presence along its southern border south of the Litani River.

The withdrawals will be accompanied by the influx of thousands of Lebanese troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area alongside existing UN peacekeepers.

An international committee will be established to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 to end a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah but was never fully implemented.

While Hezbollah never ended its presence in southern Lebanon, Lebanon said Israel regularly violated its airspace and occupied small parts of its territory.

It is unclear whether a new agreement would be implemented more successfully than the one in 2006.

Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Herzog told Israel Army Radio on Monday that the agreement aims to improve oversight and implementation of the previous decision. He said there were still some points to be finalized, but that a deal was close and could be finalized “in a few days.”

A U.S. official said talks continued to move forward on Sunday, but the parties still need to resolve some outstanding issues to complete the deal. The official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations, declined to provide details of the outstanding issues.

Israel wants freedom to attack Hezbollah and other disputes

Two Western diplomats described several sticking points to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing negotiations.

They said Israel wanted more guarantees to ensure Hezbollah’s weapons were removed from the border area. Concerned about the possibility of Hezbollah launching an attack like the one Hamas carried out from Gaza into southern Israel, Israeli officials said that if they believed Hezbollah, they would not accept a ceasefire agreement that did not explicitly grant them the freedom to launch attacks in Lebanon. violates this.

An Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss sensitive talks, said the issue remained a matter of debate, although he said the talks were going in a “positive direction.”

Lebanese officials said accepting such a deal would violate Lebanon’s sovereignty. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said the militant group would not accept a deal that did not “put a complete and comprehensive end to the aggression” and protect Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Lebanon and Israel also disagreed over which countries would take part in the international committee that oversees the implementation of the agreement and Resolution 1701.

In a sign of progress, Israel appears to have dropped its opposition to France, which has remained close to Lebanon since colonial rule ended and has recently fallen out with Israel.

France will be part of the monitoring committee, an official familiar with the talks said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because behind-the-scenes negotiations were being discussed. Elias Bousaab, Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker, also said that Israel accepted France.

However, Lebanon refused to allow Israel’s close ally, Britain. It was not clear Monday whether Lebanese officials had given up on opposition after Israel made concessions.

Meanwhile, diplomats said that Israel does not want to enter into negotiations on 13 disputed points along the border within the scope of the ceasefire agreement.

Both sides have an interest in ending the war

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the most powerful of Iran’s armed proxies, is expected to significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of direct war between Israel and Iran. It is unclear how this will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ended, but has now withdrawn that condition.

A diplomat said it is feared that if a ceasefire is not reached, the war will expand into Syria and Iraq as Israel tries to cut off arms supplies to Hezbollah from Iran. Israel has launched regular airstrikes on Iran-linked groups in Syria and has also threatened to attack Iraq, where Iran-backed militias periodically launch drone strikes on Israel.

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, during his visit to Damascus on Sunday, said ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon were critical to “prevent Syria from being dragged further into the conflict”.

Analysts say Hezbollah has weakened but continues to fire constantly at Israel, including in attacks far from the border.

Hezbollah on Sunday fired nearly 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in response to deadly Israeli attacks in Beirut, wounding seven people in the militant group’s heaviest bombardment in months. Heavy fighting continues in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces try to take control of strategic towns.

Israel says its goal in the war with Hezbollah is to ensure the safe return of displaced Israelis to their homes. In Lebanon, a quarter of the population was displaced and parts of the country were destroyed, especially southern Lebanon and areas south of the capital Beirut.

In Lebanon, where officials and locals are worried about the end of the war, the initial wave of optimism dissipated when Amos Hochstein, the Biden administration’s key man on Israel and Lebanon, left the region without a deal last week.

Many now believe no agreement can be reached before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.