US aims to prevent opening of new front in Lebanon: Israeli official
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An Israeli official confirms that the United States is intensifying its efforts to prevent the war from expanding to the Lebanese front.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Security, after their meeting in 'Tel Aviv', Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP)
The former consul of "Israel" in New York, Yaki Dayan, confirmed that Washington is currently working to prevent the opening of an additional front in Lebanon, stressing that the Lebanese front is worrying the Americans.
In an interview with Israeli Channel 12, he mentioned that even as Washington evaluates its response to Iran, it is carefully considering options to avoid triggering a regional war. This cautious approach is influenced by the upcoming elections, and the potential impact on oil prices is a significant factor in shaping their decisions.
Dayan explained that American voters are likely to base their decisions not solely on President Joe Biden's foreign policy but also on the impact of oil prices. He emphasized that the United States is currently facing a challenging situation, and the window of time it is offering "Israel" is almost up.
In the same context, the Israeli channel’s correspondent in northern occupied Palestine, Hadar Ghetsis, said that the Americans are trying to persuade Israeli officials to settle with Hezbollah.
Read next: Settlers are frantic, Hezbollah rockets earth-shaking: Israeli media
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, had confirmed in more than one speech that the operations in Lebanon are in support of Gaza, which means that they were "closely linked to developments in the Israeli aggression on the Strip".
Earlier on Friday, in an interview with Israeli news broadcaster Channel 12, IOF Brig. Gen. Avigdor Kahlani said that the regime is presently living through its toughest times since its inception and that every settler is called to have "nerves of steel, for without that we won't last for too long."
Kahlani, who also served as Israeli Minister of Internal Security, stated that "Israel's strategic goal has still not been achieved," noting that war with Lebanon "will not be easy" and that this fact should never be taken for granted.
Touching upon Israelis' evacuation from northern settlements, Kahlani estimated that about 80,000 settlers "are not planning to return until we address the lingering problem there," adding that "Israel must bring them all back."
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
