A top adviser to US President Joe Biden underscores the pressing need for a diplomatic solution to avert a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Amos Hochstein’s discussions with Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday, aimed at establishing conditions for a ceasefire, come in the wake of Israel’s strikes on branches of a financial institution linked to Hezbollah. The urgency of these talks cannot be overstated.
The targets were Al-Qard al-Hassan, a bank that the United States and others have designated as a Hezbollah front company. The airstrikes were a clear escalation of Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah, targeting more than 30 branches across Lebanon, including in densely populated parts of Beirut where the bank has a presence. An Israeli intelligence official said the strikes were meant to disrupt Hezbollah’s financial system rather than weapons depots or command and control centers.
Hochstein also met with the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri. Both agreed that there were no valid excuses for further delays in a ceasefire agreement based on a framework Biden presented months ago. This framework, proposed by President Biden, outlines the key principles and steps for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. Neither party wants another war in Lebanon, and the US envoy is also meeting intermediaries who can pass on messages to Hezbollah.
During his meetings, Hochstein reiterated a call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. He also urged Lebanese and Palestinians to move toward a Gaza peace deal without delay. The Gaza peace deal, proposed by the Biden administration, aims to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. He is the highest-ranking US envoy in a series of officials who have visited Israel and Lebanon to mediate a truce.
Diplomacy has failed to cool down Israel’s raging conflicts with its two most dangerous and heavily armed regional militia foes – Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Both sides have been trading heavy fire since 7 October, when Hezbollah launched a surprise attack on Israel, which sent its forces into Lebanon to stop the advance.
Hezbollah’s vow to retaliate for the attack has led to a conflict that has uprooted over 1.2 million people in Lebanon. Israeli bombings have devastated large areas of the country, and the fear of more attacks has deepened sectarian divisions. The resulting humanitarian crisis, with rumors of Hezbollah fighters hiding among displaced families, is a stark reminder of the human cost of this conflict.
The conflict has led to a deep political and economic crisis in Lebanon, where unemployment is rising. The currency has plummeted, and many people are now leaving the country. Despite the dire situation, Lebanese leaders are trying to maintain appearances and project an image of stability, even as they prepare for elections next year.
The US envoy’s proposals, including the deployment of more Lebanese army soldiers in southern Lebanon and an upgrade to the UNIFIL mission’s mandate, have met with resistance from both Israel and Hezbollah. This resistance underscores the complexity of the situation and the challenges in reaching a diplomatic solution.
