Report: U.S. and Allies Seek Israel-Hezbollah Resolutions

By Yoni Weiss

The United States, along with four European allies, is working to unveil commitments from both Israel and Hezbollah within the next few weeks, Axios reported. The primary objective is to de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, a critical concern for the Biden administration to prevent a broader regional conflict. Recent border skirmishes, sparked by the Israeli assassination of a senior Hamas official, have heightened fears of an all-out war. The proposed understandings, modeled after the 1996 Grapes of Wrath accord, aim to secure commitments to halt border skirmishes.

The agreement, though not requiring formal signatures, will outline commitments by both Israel and Hezbollah. Economic benefits for Lebanon, announced by the U.S. and four European nations (the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy), are intended to incentivize Hezbollah’s cooperation. The focus will be on partial implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, addressing troop movements, overflights, and commitments to cease border skirmishes. The announcement seeks to foster stability in the region, preventing further escalations and providing a framework for ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The negotiations involve Amos Hochstein, an adviser to President Joe Biden, who recently discussed the proposal with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The terms may not require Hezbollah to move all its forces north of the Litani River, but instead focus on a specific distance from the Israeli border. Israel is urged to halt overflights in Lebanese airspace, while committing to withdraw some of its amassed forces along the border. The Biden administration, aware of Israel’s military capabilities, emphasizes the strategic importance of avoiding a major military operation against Hezbollah.

Despite challenges and potential rejection of some terms by Hezbollah, the U.S. hopes to ease tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. This effort aligns with broader regional stability goals, especially amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza.