Israel’s Hardline Government Rejects Lebanon Ceasefire Proposal, Reuters Reports

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Hardline members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have rejected proposals from the United States and France for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, aimed at allowing time for a diplomatic solution.

Netanyahu, who left Israel to address the United Nations, has not yet responded directly to the ceasefire suggestion. Before his departure, he reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the safe return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from areas near the northern border.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of one of the nationalist-religious factions in the coalition, emphasized that Hezbollah must be decisively defeated and that only its surrender would pave the way for the evacuees’ return. He stated, “The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows he received and to reorganize for the continuation of the war after 21 days.”

Members of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s far-right faction, who scheduled an emergency meeting on Wednesday, have already voiced their opposition to the ceasefire proposal.

The United States and France, alongside other allies, called for a ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border, known as the “Blue Line,” to facilitate negotiations for a potential resolution to the conflict.

In recent days, Israel has conducted its most intensive airstrikes on Lebanon since the 2006 war, resulting in over 600 fatalities, as tensions with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have intensified, edging closer to all-out conflict. Hezbollah has launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, including strikes on Tel Aviv, though Israel’s aerial defense systems have minimized the impact.

On Wednesday, Israel’s army chief directly addressed the possibility of a ground offensive into Lebanon, instructing troops near the border to prepare for such action. It remains uncertain whether this statement indicates a forthcoming ground operation or is a tactical maneuver to compel Hezbollah to retreat. Additionally, Israel has reinforced its northern border by mobilizing two extra reserve brigades.

The hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted for nearly a year, igniting shortly after an attack by Hamas on Israeli communities in the south on October 7.