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Israeli media: Hochstein returned from Lebanon in state of 'pessimism'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
19 Jun 2024 03:15
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Israeli media reveal the pessimism with which senior US Envoy Amos Hochstein left Lebanon, due to Hezbollah's insistence on rejecting the notion that fronts can be separated, meaning that calm in the North requires calm in the South.

Senior Advisor to US President Joe Biden, Amos Hochstein listens to a journalist's question after giving a statement to the media in Beirut, Lebanon, June 18, 2024. (AP)

Israeli media have linked Hezbollah's show of defiance in the North, through the Hoopoe Mission video, with the visit of senior US envoy Amos Hochstein to Lebanon, before he returned to "Israel" in a state of "pessimism".

Yaron Avraham, political affairs commentator on Israeli Channel 12, said that Hochstein "is now meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his office, conveying the messages he heard from the talks he had in Lebanon," adding that "the Americans are trying to do everything to prevent a war in the north."

Avraham pointed out that "Hochstein, before traveling to Lebanon, not only met with Netanyahu the first time, but also with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, as well as Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, Isaac Herzog, and a group of Israeli officials."

Additionally, Avraham noted that Hochstein told the officials he spoke with that he is "particularly concerned about the talks he had with the Chief of Staff," as he "did not understand what Israel's military plan is, or what the next step would be."

In these talks, Hochstein explained to the Israeli officials that "Hezbollah simply cannot separate the fronts, because Nasrallah is committed to his stance since October 8th to continue firing and escalating as long as the southern front is active."

As a result, Hochstein said he could "arrange something in the north," indicating that he has "a 13-point plan he can get Hezbollah to implement, and there might be some modifications, but such an arrangement would be linked to de-escalation in the south," according to what Avraham claimed.

Gaza ceasefire key to calming northern front, says Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Tuesday the strong strategic relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv.

"Everything else is moving as it normally would move, and again with the perspective of making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against this multiplicity of challenges," Blinken said of the US unwavering support to the occupation.

On the issue of the US 2,000 pound bombs shipment for "Israel", he maintained that it is still under review over concerns about their use in crowded areas of Gaza,

However, he maintained that other weapons shipments are moving as usual.

The United States is "continuing to review one shipment... with regard to 2,000 pound bombs because of our concerns about their use in a densely populated area like Rafah," Blinken said in a press conference with visiting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington, D.C.

But "everything else is moving as it normally would move," he said while declining to discuss the specifics of diplomatic talks with Netanyahu.

Blinken's remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Tel Aviv that the top US diplomat had assured him the US government was working "day and night" to address the delay in the arrival of the weapons.

Regarding the situation on the northern front, Blinken stated that he doesn't think "Israel" or Hezbollah are inclined to escalate the scope of the war.

The US Secretary of State further claimed that his country seeks to limit actions that could lead to a full-blown war and emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution and the return of parties to their previous positions.

On the ceasefire deal proposed by US President Joe Biden, Blinken clarified that reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza would enhance prospects for a diplomatic solution on the Lebanese front, which is the quickest solution.

Of course, blaming Hamas for the status quo regarding the deal, Blinken said, "So we're working to see if we can bridge the gaps that Hamas is now created by not saying yes to the proposal that everyone else had agreed to that was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, countries around the world, and we have the negotiators, the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and particularly working on this to see if we can bridge the gap."