Channel 13: Tel Aviv-Washington differences deepen over ending fighting on three fronts

Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Sunday that differences between Tel Aviv and Washington were deepening amid growing US pressure on Israel to move towards ending fighting on three fronts: Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

The private broadcaster, citing unnamed political sources, said the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, conveyed a message during his latest visit to Israel on Saturday that Washington wanted to see progress towards “closing the three fronts”.

It added that Israeli military officials told their US counterparts that Israel reserved the right to act against Iran if it was found to be continuing to develop its nuclear programme or rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities.

According to Channel 13, the United States wants to see an Israel withdrawal from additional positions inside the security zone in southern Lebanon. Washington is also pressing for progress in the Gaza Strip and the deployment of a multinational force, which currently includes hundreds of troops from Morocco and Uganda.

The channel said Israeli security officials had protested in recent days to political leaders over US demands to halt targeted assassinations and scale back Israeli military activities in the Gaza Strip, although these demands are not explicitly included in the proposals currently under discussion.

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