“Tonight, I will submit a ceasefire proposal to the cabinet. The duration of this ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on television on Tuesday in an address to the nation.
Posted at 2:38 p.m.
Updated at 4:10 p.m.
The ceasefire is expected to come into effect on Wednesday morning. However, it appears very fragile and punctual as Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech focused largely on his objectives rather than on a truce. “I promised you victory, and we will achieve victory. »
If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack. If he tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If he fires a rocket, if he digs a tunnel, if he transports rockets in a truck, we will attack.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
“I hear some claims that in the event of a ceasefire, we will not be able to attack or resume war. I remind you that this is exactly what we said when we agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza to free the hostages. They said we wouldn’t fight again, but we did. »
Why a ceasefire now? Netanyahu cited three reasons. “The first reason is to focus on the Iranian threat. I won’t say any more. »
“The second reason is to give our forces a break and replenish our stocks. »
“I say it openly: it is no secret that there are serious delays in the deliveries of weapons and ammunition. These delays will soon be resolved. We will receive supplies of advanced weapons that will protect our Soldiers and give us greater strike capability to complete our mission. »
The third reason mentioned by the Israeli Prime Minister is that he considers it necessary « to separate the fronts and isolate Hamas. From the second day of the war, Hamas counted on Hezbollah to fight alongside it. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left alone. We will increase the pressure on Hamas, which will help us in our sacred mission to free our hostages.”
This time, regarding delays in the delivery of weapons, Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention the United States by name, as his government has done recently, according to the Times of Israël. According to this daily, government sources believe that Washington was deliberately delaying its deliveries, which the Biden administration categorically denies.
Over the course of the year, Benjamin Netanyahu concluded, “we turned the tide. We were attacked on seven fronts and we fought back with force. We are changing the face of the Middle East.”
“I have said it several times: a good agreement is an agreement implemented, and we will ensure its implementation. With God’s help, we will establish security, we will rehabilitate the north and we will continue, united, until victory. »
