Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Lebanon Cease-fire

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Facts

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Tuesday that the nation's security cabinet had approved a cease-fire deal in Lebanon, with the prime minister saying this would allow Israel to focus on "the Iranian threat," allow Israeli forces to rest, and isolate Hamas.[1][2][3]
  • Netanyahu said that Israel would maintain "full freedom of military action," vowing to attack Hezbollah if it tried to rearm. Initial reports suggest that the deal's wording is ambiguous regarding Israel's ability to retaliate against any potential violations on Hezbollah's part. The cease-fire is expected to take effect on Wednesday.[4][5]
  • The deal stipulates that both Israel and Hezbollah are to withdraw from South Lebanon within 60 days, making way for the Lebanese army and international forces to enter the area.[6][7][8]
  • Hezbollah said that it still needed to review the deal before the Lebanese government signed off on it, adding that it did not trust Netanyahu and wanted to ensure that it was not being "tricked." The group also said that it wanted a deal but not at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty.[9]
  • Israel's political opposition and right-wing elements of Netanyahu's cabinet have expressed dissatisfaction with the deal. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said that Israel was being "dragged into the agreement with Hezbollah." Right-wing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the deal was "a grave mistake."[10][11][12]
  • Meanwhile, shortly after US Pres. Joe Biden announced the deal, Israel struck Beirut, though specifics of the strike are unclear. Hezbollah reportedly fired a salvo of long-range rockets into northern and central Israel.[13][14][15]

Sources: [1]Reuters, [2]The Times of Israel (a), [3]CNN, [4]The Times of Israel (b), [5]The Times of Israel (c), [6]L'Orient Today, [7]CBS, [8]The Hill, [9]The Times of Israel (b), [10]Al Jazeera, [11]The Times of Israel (d), [12]The Cradle, [13]The Times of Israel (c), [14]ABC News and [15]Associated Press.

The Spin

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CNN. It is imperative that a cease-fire in Lebanon is agreed upon and properly enforced. Both sides have been willing to compromise, and US mediation has seemingly borne fruit. The US will continue to play a leading role in de-escalating this terrible regional conflict and ensuring that the Lebanese border remains quiet.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Jerusalem Post. Though Israel rightfully still has reservations regarding a cease-fire in Lebanon, the time is ripe for a deal. Israel has decimated Hezbollah's leadership, seriously degraded its rocket arsenal, and destroyed its terrorist infrastructure along the border, demonstrating a clear Israeli victory over the group. Nothing is yet set in stone, but Israel's campaign in Lebanon has been quite successful.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Of course, Israel is perpetrating as many massacres as possible in Lebanon before a cease-fire is implemented, launching massive strikes across the country. It's also not clear if Israel will stick to the agreement. Either way, Israel's genocide in Gaza has continued unabated and must not be forgotten.
  • Narrative D, as provided by Al Mayadeen. Israel is looking for a cease-fire in Lebanon because it failed miserably at reoccupying South Lebanon. Though a deal has not yet been agreed upon, Hezbollah has remained steadfast in its defense of Lebanese sovereignty and the Lebanese people, successfully preventing Israel from achieving its goals.