‘Within Our Grasp’: U.S. Envoy Hochstein Reaches for Lebanon Truce

Latest Developments

• U.S. Envoy Back in Beirut: Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden, returned to Beirut on November 19, hours after several news outlets reported that Lebanon and the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah had provisionally accepted a proposal by Washington for a truce with Israel. “This is a moment of decision-making,” Hochstein said after what he described as “very constructive” talks with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri. “But it’s ultimately the decision of the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. It is now within our grasp.” Hochstein is due to visit Israel on November 20.

• Lebanon Has ‘Comments’: Lebanon said it attached several “comments” to its response on the ceasefire offer, describing these as consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006, which called for Hezbollah to be withdrawn north of the Litani River and disarmed. Israel has demanded not only an implementation of 1701 but also enforcement mechanisms beyond the United Nations and the Lebanese army to be empowered. That should include an Israeli right to act militarily against any Hezbollah infractions or attempts to send arms to the group via Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

• Israel Kills Hezbollah Media Chief: In a rare strike on central Beirut on November 17, Israel’s air force eliminated Mohammad Afif, the head of media relations for Hezbollah, Lebanese officials said. The building targeted served as the local headquarters of the Arab socialist Ba’ath party, which rules in Syria.

FDD Expert Response

“Hochstein has made around a dozen trouble-shooting trips to the region since Hezbollah joined the Hamas terrorist war against Israel following the October 7 atrocities last year. Any success he might achieve now will be due to the cutting down of Hezbollah by Israeli military might over the last two months. The U.S. envoy should bear this in mind when he hears out Jerusalem’s demands to retain the right to intervene through force should Hezbollah breach the proposed ceasefire.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“Hochstein has expressed his desire to broker a ceasefire deal that will end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, not just this round of fighting, ‘once and for all.’ If that is true, a ceasefire deal must avoid any dependence on the Lebanese government or state — which continue to demonstrate their unwillingness and inability to confront Hezbollah — for enforcement. It must rely, instead, on credible and proven enforcement mechanisms, irrespective of Lebanese objections.” — David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow