Israel’s security cabinet chose not to proceed with a vote on a ceasefire proposal Thursday following public opposition from Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informing ministers that “at the moment there is no agreement.”
The framework, which emerged from Israel-Lebanon discussions in Washington, calls for creating security zones in Lebanon free of Hezbollah presence and mandates the organization’s withdrawal from territories south of the Litani River.
Meeting participants reported that Netanyahu informed ministers Israel remained waiting for Hezbollah’s formal acceptance of the framework before presenting it to the government for consideration.
“At the moment there is no agreement,” Netanyahu stated, according to those present at the meeting. “Hezbollah opposes it, and therefore I am not bringing it for a decision. If it agrees, I will bring it for your approval.”
Cabinet members decided against voting on the framework after becoming aware of Qassem’s dismissal.
The Hezbollah leader had condemned both the plan and the negotiation process that created it earlier Thursday.
“The result of the direct, humiliating and disgraceful negotiations is rejected by broad parts of the Lebanese people,” Qassem stated.
He additionally criticized the framework, declaring, “The Washington declaration conditions the basic principles that America and Israel want, toward the subjugation of Lebanon to the Greater Israel project.”
The cabinet session occurred while fighting continued in southern Lebanon. Ministers learned during their meeting about the death of Capt. Eitan Shmuel Lamberg, an Armored Corps officer killed in southern Lebanon.
Reports from Ynet indicated that news of Lamberg’s death strengthened some ministers’ resistance to the ceasefire framework during their discussions.
Meanwhile, Ynet reported that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich contended that securing a ceasefire under present conditions would constitute a major achievement.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir participated in just the beginning of the cabinet session and offered limited comments, according to officials with knowledge of the proceedings who spoke to Ynet.
