Israeli Defense Minister: No Ceasefire with Hezbollah

Israel's new Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, in his first official meeting with the country's military officials after his appointment, announced that Israel will continue its war against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. He stated on Monday evening, November 21, that 'there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon and there will be no talk of a temporary halt.' He added, 'We will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force until we achieve our war objectives.' On Tuesday, November 22, he reiterated in a message on X that there will be no ceasefire or temporary halt to the war in Lebanon. He mentioned that their 'brilliant and strong operations' against Hezbollah and the elimination of Hassan Nasrallah, the former Secretary-General of Hezbollah, represent a picture of 'victory,' and 'we must continue to attack Hezbollah with all our might until all war objectives are achieved.' According to him, Israel will not agree to any agreement that does not guarantee 'our rights to prevent terrorism, disarm Hezbollah, push its forces back to the Litani River line, and ensure the safety of the people of northern Israel to return home.' Israeli media reported that the Defense Minister's statements were made in response to reports indicating 'progress' in negotiations for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. Gideon Sa'ar, the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Israel, stated on Monday in his first press conference in Jerusalem that Israel is cooperating with the United States for a ceasefire. He added that a fundamental principle in any agreement must be that Hezbollah cannot bring weapons from Syria into Lebanon. According to Sa'ar, Russia's military presence in Syria could help ensure the success of any agreement in Lebanon. Israeli newspapers Israel Hayom and Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday that a draft agreement was exchanged through Amos Hochstein, the U.S. special envoy, indicating progress in efforts to reach a final agreement. Israel Hayom noted that this agreement would require Hezbollah to withdraw to the north of the Litani River and aims to prevent the continued presence of this Iranian proxy group near the Israeli border. Mohammad Afif, a senior Hezbollah member, linked the increase in political contacts to end the war in Lebanon to Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. and mentioned that activities are underway in Washington, Moscow, Tehran, and other capitals. He added that 'the contacts are in a trial phase and presenting initial ideas.' Meanwhile, Najib Mikati, the Prime Minister of the interim Lebanese government, emphasized on Monday at an emergency joint meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League in Riyadh that his country is ready to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 'with all its clauses' to end the war. Israel reported progress in ceasefire talks in Lebanon while continuing airstrikes. Mikati, prior to attending this meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia, called on 'all countries' to refrain from interfering in the affairs of other countries to end the war in his country. The Prime Minister's reference apparently pointed to the Islamic Republic of Iran, as he had previously told Tehran's leaders that they do not need to show this level of 'emotion' regarding Lebanon. The first meeting of an Israeli senior minister with Donald Trump after his victory in the U.S. elections was also raised during Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's visit to the U.S. After meeting with Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, on Monday evening in Florida, Dermer also met with Donald Trump, the elected U.S. President. Although details of this meeting were not disclosed, it is expected that Trump and Dermer discussed reaching an agreement to end the war in Lebanon, threats from Iran, the war in Gaza, normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and the fate of Israeli hostages held by the extremist group Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU. Israeli media reported that Dermer, after a mission assigned by the Prime Minister in Russia to explore the possibility of Moscow's cooperation in ensuring the cessation of arms shipments from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon, headed to the U.S. Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported early Tuesday about the death of 11 people during an Israeli attack in the village of Ain Yaqub in the Akkar region in northern Lebanon. Al-Hadath network reported that the aim of the Israeli operation was to kill the son-in-law of Naeem Qassem, the newly elected Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Israel did not comment on the target of this operation. A day before this attack, a funeral was held for 20 Lebanese killed in another Israeli attack on the southern town of Deir Qanun Ras al-Ain. Local residents stated that seven of the deceased were medical rescue workers close to Hezbollah and the Shia Amal group. On the other hand, Israeli army radio reported early Tuesday that Hezbollah fired 180 rockets towards northern Israel in a 24-hour period, with several hitting various towns and villages, causing significant damage to homes and vehicles. The Times of Israel reported that seven people, including several women and a baby girl, were injured in these attacks in an Arab town in northern Galilee. Haifa's mayor, Yona Yahav, told Israeli army radio on Tuesday that life in this port city has been seriously affected by the increased range of Hezbollah's rocket attacks, with many shops closed and the city in a semi-shutdown state. Yahav added that the economic situation in this third-largest city in the country is worsening, and the government is obliged to provide compensation to the people of Haifa for their losses. In the ongoing Gaza war and verbal tensions regarding sovereignty over the West Bank, Israeli media reported that five more soldiers were killed in a day in Gaza. All five were reserve forces. Four of the soldiers were killed in operations in the Jabalia area. Kan network reported on Monday night that at the beginning of the war, 150% of reserve forces joined the army, but as the war prolonged, this figure has now dropped to about 80%, and many reserve forces are dissatisfied that the government exempts religious men from military service 'to maintain the political coalition' at the request of religious party leaders. Kan's report indicated that some reserve forces have had to serve 300 days or more on the front lines during the 403 days of the ongoing war. Meanwhile, hospital sources affiliated with the extremist group Hamas in Gaza reported early Tuesday the deaths of 10 Palestinians in Israeli attacks in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza. Palestinian sources also reported the deaths of 40 others in Israeli operations in Jabalia and other parts of Gaza on Monday. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, condemned the statements of an Israeli senior minister regarding sovereignty over the West Bank, calling it a completely illegal act contrary to Palestinian rights. Borrell wrote in a message on X that such rhetoric undermines any chance for a two-state solution. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister and leader of a far-right party allied with Benjamin Netanyahu's government, expressed hope on Monday in a meeting of his party's faction in the Knesset that the incoming Donald Trump administration next year will recognize Israel's sovereignty over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Smotrich stated that 2025 will be the year of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (West Bank). He added that he has instructed relevant officials to prepare the necessary infrastructure for expanding sovereignty. However, Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, stated in a press conference on Monday in Jerusalem that Netanyahu's government has not yet made a decision on this matter and that the last time this issue was raised was during Donald Trump's first administration. Sa'ar added that if the conditions arise for this topic to be raised again, 'we will discuss it with our friends in Washington.' Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, reacted by saying that Smotrich's statements indicate the Israeli government's intention to annex the West Bank, contrary to international law. Abu Rudeineh added that we hold Israeli officials 'fully responsible for the consequences of these dangerous policies.'