PRESS REVIEW – The truce between the Jewish state and Hezbollah, in force since Wednesday, must suspend the conflict which has forced tens of thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands of others in Lebanon to flee their homes.
In the Mediterranean coastal city of Sidon in southern Lebanon, “thousands of people are returning home”reports this Wednesday, November 27 Al-Jazeera English. “Some waved the sign of “victory”, because for many, returning home is a victory in itself (…) A feeling of relief reigns across the country”observes the reporter from the English version of the pan-Arab channel. Who tempers: “Optimism remains cautious… because people are afraid that this will still be a very fragile truce.”
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah signed Tuesday evening came into force this Wednesday after more than a year of cross-border fighting and two months of open war between the Hebrew state and the Shiite militia supported by ‘Iran. According to the Lebanese authorities, at least 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon in total since October 2023. The hostilities have caused the displacement of some 900,000 people, according to the UN. On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians were killed in 13 months in clashes with Hezbollah, authorities say.
“I would prefer that we continue to fight”
The same fears are shared on the other side of the border, advances in its editorial The Jerusalem Post. “For the inhabitants of the North [d’Israël]this agreement seems too familiar. They have seen agreements of this type before, but they have seen Hezbollah strengthened (…) Asking them to trust another diplomatic promise requires more than words. This requires concrete actions and an unwavering commitment to their safety. Israel’s challenge is to prove that this agreement is not another empty promise.urges the daily.
The Times of Israel gives a voice to these divided Israelis who had to evacuate the border towns of Lebanon – there are around 60,000 of them. The information site looks at the story of Miro Vahknin, owner of a beauty salon in Nahariya by day, member of his kibbutz intervention team by night and fierce opponent of the ceasefire. “Despite the difficulties in my personal life, I would prefer that we continue to fight and agree to a ceasefire only when we are truly in control of the situation”. In another locality, a couple declares themselves to be “for a ceasefire because I believe that problems must be resolved by agreement rather than by force”.
“Major victory for the White House”
The negotiated agreement provides in particular for a period of sixty days during which the IDF must withdraw from South Lebanon, the army of the country of the Cedars deploy in the border areas and Hezbollah move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River. This truce, analyzes the American media Politico, “is a major victory for the White House, which sought to finalize a détente with Hezbollah in the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency”.
Now questions are being asked in the United States about New York Times, “the question is whether this announced ceasefire [par le président américain] will be the conclusion of its diplomatic efforts in the Middle East or a springboard towards more radical agreements that could finally end the devastating war in Gaza and potentially even pave the way for broader regional transformation.. “55 days before the end of his term, Joe Biden is embarking on a race against time. “He would rather be remembered as the president who put the Middle East on the path to a lasting settlement of long-standing animosities rather than as the one who left a disaster to his successor.”continues the daily.
“All these ashes must be urgently recycled”
In his editorial, The Orient-The Day urges Hezbollah to “prove yourself more Lebanese than Persian”. “He owes it to all of us and not just to the Shiite community, particularly affected by his lousy bets and practically abandoned. Likewise, the other components are required to work intelligently to piece together a Lebanese puzzle that has been disrupted by foreign interference. All these deaths must not have fallen for nothing. All these ashes left by the arsonists must be urgently recycled, made into concrete. State to rebuild desperately seeks statesmen”we can read on the front page of the Franco-Lebanese daily.
Screenshot L’Orient-Le Jour
And to mention the Lebanese government, simple “relay between the American mediator and the Shiite militia”Who “will acquiesce today to a ceasefire putting an end to a war that it never declared, nor even desired”. An agreement he doesn’t have “not truly, fully, sovereignly negotiated”.
Basic problem
In Spain, The Country believes that the “ceasefire does not resolve the underlying problem” and that“in the absence of a solution for the Palestinians, the risk of a new war remains”. “The cessation of hostilities is always good news, but is the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon the end of the war?”asks the Madrid daily.
In its Wednesday edition, the English daily The Times note that “Western diplomats and much of the Middle East hope that [l’accord] will mark a de-escalation of regional tensions after months of escalating violence that included the assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders and a direct confrontation with Iran..
