Israel is preparing for Donald Trump's second term in the White House with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in charge of discussing with the Republican president-elect a possible ceasefire in Lebanon.
As Israel continues bombing Lebanon, its leadership, according to a Washington Post report, is preparing a proposal for a truce with Hezbollah, which Trump could present as a diplomatic success, as three current and former officials told the American newspaper Israeli officials.
"There is an agreement that Israel will give Trump a gift ... that there will be a deal on Lebanon in January," an Israeli official said, meaning the Netanyahu government's priorities have shifted rapidly since the US election.
As the publication reports, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer visited President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida during his last trip to the US, before informing Joe Biden's administration in Washington of the progress of ceasefire talks in Lebanon.
What does Israel's proposal for a truce in Lebanon foresee?
According to the Israeli proposal, Hezbollah should withdraw its forces behind the Litani River, that is, about 30 km. from the border with Israel. In addition, Russia, which maintains relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has deployed forces in his country, should ensure that Hezbollah is not rearmed from Syria. According to the Washington Post, Russian negotiators were recently in Israel to discuss the details.
Lebanon's Shiite group, an ally of Iran, has been firing rockets at Israel since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, which has responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive.
According to Lebanese authorities, 220 minors have been killed since fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army began more than a year ago, and nearly 1.300 children and youths have been injured. A total of 3.386 people have been killed and 14.417 injured so far. In Israel, 76 people have been killed on this front since the start of the war, including 45 civilians and 31 soldiers, while more than 640 people have been injured.
Source: iefimerida.gr
