Ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah ‘progressing,’ says Israeli ambassador to UN

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon affirmed that negotiations for a ceasefire with Hezbollah are “progressing” while specifying that his country “will ensure that it has the capacity to neutralize any threat untreated in southern Lebanon.

“We are making progress on this front. I have said it many times: our objective was very clear, to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River. It is not yet finalized, but we are moving forward, he declared during a press briefing before a meeting of the UN Security Council. I think it’s important for us to ensure that Hezbollah does not return to the border. We will do whatever is necessary to guarantee it. We have learned the lessons of 2006.”

According to the ambassador, the Israeli Cabinet “will meet today or tomorrow” to discuss the ceasefire agreement.

Asked whether Israel wanted to reserve the right to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon, he replied: “We have learned the lessons of Resolution 1701, and we will ensure that we have the capacity to neutralize any unaddressed threat in the south of Lebanon”. “I hope that the Lebanese army will take care of this in the future, but if it fails, we will be present again,” he added, however.

Concerning the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), he affirmed that “it will remain there” and hoped “that it will be more effective this time”.

Mr. Danon also clarified that “things will not happen overnight.” “There will be several phases, several requirements,” he explained. The most important provision for us is the withdrawal of Hezbollah north of the Litani River. We said it from the beginning: this was our objective in this war. Then there will be other steps in the agreement,” he said without giving further details.

Asked about the ceasefire in Gaza, he replied: “With Lebanon it is actually simpler, because we are dealing with one nation, one country. Negotiators can receive responses. With Hamas, it is much more complicated. You are dealing with a terrorist organization. It is very difficult to get answers. To date, we have not even received the list of hostages still alive or proof of life. So there is a big difference between negotiating with Lebanon and with Hamas.”

Mr. Danon also denounced the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “Just yesterday, Hezbollah launched more than 500 rockets at millions of Israeli citizens: 500 rockets weighing down innocent families, schools and homes, leaving millions of civilians rushing to shelters,” he denounced. . However, in the eyes of the ICC, it is the democratically elected leaders who defend their people who are the criminals. This is not justice. This is diplomatic terrorism.”