US envoy Hochstein threatens to withdraw from Israel-Lebanon ceasefire efforts until Tel Aviv agrees on proposal

A top United States official has threatened to withdraw from mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon if Tel Aviv does not accept an American proposal, Israeli media has reported.

According to Israel’s Channel 13 on Sunday, US envoy, Amos Hochstein – American mediator in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations – informed Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog that, if Tel Aviv fails to respond positively to the recent US ceasefire proposal with Lebanon, Washington will pull out of the mediation process.

The warning was reportedly given when Hochstein visited last week, after visiting the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for a two-day trip.

Throughout the past year since Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip and its subsequent escalation in hostilities with Lebanese group, Hezbollah, to the north, Tel Aviv has repeatedly foiled attempts to reach any ceasefire deal on either front.

With regard to Lebanon, the situation of which was exacerbated when Israeli occupation forces invaded the south of the country almost two months ago, Tel Aviv again threw a spanner in the process when Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, last week demanded the freedom to conduct military operations in southern Lebanon as a condition for agreeing to a ceasefire.

In response to that condition, Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, predictably rejected it. On Hezbollah’s part, the group’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said last Wednesday that Hezbollah had submitted its comments on the US proposal, stating that it is “negotiating under two conditions: first, the complete and comprehensive cessation of Israeli aggression and, second, the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty”.

Israel cabinet to meet Tuesday to approve Lebanon ceasefire deal