A larger war between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah could be approaching, according to statements made by the Israeli government on Monday.
The window of opportunity for a deal is closing as Hezbollah continues to “bind” itself to the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and refuses to end the conflict, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a meeting with US mediator Amos Hochstein.
“Therefore, military action is the only way to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes,” he said.
His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Hochstein: “It will not be possible to return our residents without a fundamental change in the security situation in the north.”
They discussed efforts to improve the security situation on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes, following violence in the area between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah.
Hochstein has been working for months to de-escalate the extremely dangerous situation at the border, where tens of thousands of people have fled their homes.
According to Israeli TV channel N12, Hochstein warned top Israeli politicians about the dangerous consequences of a larger war, which could spread further into the region.
Netanyahu said that while Israel appreciates and respects the US support, it will ultimately “do whatever is necessary to ensure its security and allow the residents of the north to return safely to their homes.”