Amos Hochstein, a special envoy of US President Joe Biden, is in Israel for talks aimed at preventing a full-fledged war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Hochstein’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions on Israel’s northern border, where Hezbollah has ramped up attacks in recent weeks. The Israeli military has warned that Hezbollah has pushed the two sides to the “brink of a wider escalation” – a euphemism for a full-fledged war.
Hochstein has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, top military and security officials, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israeli President Herzog. He is also scheduled to meet with Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz.
Amidst the escalating situation, Israel has expressed openness to both diplomatic resolution and military action. The Times of Israel reports that Israel is open to going to war against Hezbollah to “restore security to the north if an agreement isn’t reached”. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Hezbollah has clashed with Israel on a near-daily basis, with recent months seeing fierce fighting. Hezbollah’s rocket barrages have ignited the northern parts of Israel, leading to widespread fires and the displacement of tens of thousands of Israelis who deem the border region too dangerous to reside in.
Last week, CBS News reported that the United States was concerned about the high likelihood of a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah. France has also proposed a trilateral mechanism with the United States to diffuse tensions, but Israel has rejected the offer.
In a statement on Sunday, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari warned that Hezbollah has brought the two sides to “the brink of a wider escalation” with “devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region.” Hagari emphasized that Israel’s security is non-negotiable and placed the responsibility on Hezbollah. He stated, “Because of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, weapons and fire at Israel from the area south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and because of Lebanon’s failure to enforce 1701 on Hezbollah, Israel will take the necessary measures to protect its civilians, until security along our border with Lebanon is restored.”
Hagari also stated, “Iran’s terror proxies continue to drag the region to destruction. Israel will continue fighting against Iran’s axis of evil on all fronts – in Gaza, in Lebanon – as we work towards a more secure future for the Middle East…October 7th cannot happen again, on any one of Israel’s borders. Israel has a duty to defend the people of Israel. We will fulfill that duty, at all costs.”
