Israel Backs Iran Ceasefire but Excludes Lebanon: Netanyahu
In a significant policy clarification, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that while Israel supports President Donald Trump’s decision to pause strikes on Iran for two weeks, this ceasefire will not apply to Lebanon.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel remains committed to supporting U.S. efforts to ensure that Iran never becomes a nuclear threat to the world.
Key Points of the Announcement:
- Support for U.S. Diplomacy: Israel backs the 14-day pause in direct hostilities against Iran to facilitate the upcoming Islamabad negotiations.
- Nuclear Disarmament: Netanyahu emphasized that the primary goal of these talks must be to permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
- Exclusion of Lebanon: The Prime Minister explicitly clarified that military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue unabated, regardless of the diplomatic track with Tehran.
- No Compromise on Security: Israel maintains that it will not compromise on its regional security objectives or its mission to neutralize threats on its immediate borders.
Escalating Border Tensions
This declaration has immediately heightened military tensions along the Lebanese border. While the broader region looks toward the Islamabad summit for a reprieve, Netanyahu’s confirmation that “diplomacy with Iran and military action in Lebanon are separate tracks” suggests that the conflict with Hezbollah will persist.
The Israeli government reaffirmed that it stands fully behind Washington‘s pressure to transform Iran into a non-nuclear state, asserting that its military readiness remains at its peak to handle any threats from Iranian proxies during the negotiation period.
