Senior US government officials were “furious” on Thursday (26) after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, released on Wednesday night ( 25) by a group of nations led by the USA. The country demanded that Israel make a public statement to remedy the diplomatic embarrassment, sources told CNN .
By Wednesday, American officials had received every assurance from Ron Dermer – one of Netanyahu’s closest confidants – that the prime minister was in agreement with the suggestion of a 21-day ceasefire on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Sources stated that Dermer himself saw – and approved – the text of the proposal.
But just hours after the White House announced the proposal, Netanyahu and his cabinet rejected it, calling the idea “incorrect,” while the prime minister vowed to continue Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah.
Angered, senior US officials – convinced that Netanyahu was reacting to internal responses from far-right members of his government – scrambled to get answers from their Israeli counterparts.
When Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Dermer in New York City on Thursday, for example, he demanded that the Israelis make a public statement, according to one official. This, in part, appears to have prompted the prime minister’s office to release a statement the same day, stating that discussions on the proposed ceasefire would continue. The statement neither explicitly accepted nor rejected the proposal.
“Israel appreciates US efforts because the US role is indispensable in promoting stability and security in the region,” the statement highlighted.
A source familiar with Blinken’s meeting with Dermer on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly described it as “sincere.”
Before meeting with Blinken, Dermer also met with senior White House officials, including Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein. These meetings were described by one source as “frank.” McGurk and Hochstein were among the senior officials who believed that because Dermer was involved in the process of drafting the ceasefire proposal, Netanyahu was in agreement.
The Israeli embassy and the White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Understand the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah
Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on areas of Lebanon in recent days. On Monday (23), the country had its deadliest day since the 2006 war, with more than 500 fatalities. According to the Israeli military, the targets are members and military infrastructure of Hezbollah, one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East and supported by Iran.
The offensive reached several points in Lebanon, including the country’s capital, Beirut. Thousands of people sought refuge in shelters and left cities in the south of the country.
Furthermore, a land incursion has not been ruled out.
Hezbollah and Israel began exchanging attacks after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip. The Lebanese group is an ally of Hamas, which invaded Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, killing hundreds of people and capturing hostages.
Due to the bombings, thousands of residents of northern Israel, where the border with Lebanon is located, had to be displaced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised several times to return these citizens to their homes.
On September 17, Israel added the return of these residents as an official war objective.
A 15-year-old Brazilian teenager died after an Israeli airstrike. Itamaraty condemned the situation and called for an end to hostilities. The Brazilian government is also evaluating a possible rescue mission.
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This content was originally published in Netanyahu rejects ceasefire proposal in Lebanon and causes “diplomatic embarrassment” to the US on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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