Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that there is a “short window of time” to reach diplomatic understandings with Lebanon, and stressed that Tel Aviv is working to “change the security reality” along the Lebanese border.
These statements came during Gallant’s meeting in Tel Aviv, today, Thursday, with the US Presidential Envoy for Energy Affairs, Amos Hochstein.
Hockstein arrived in Israel today, Thursday, on a mission for which a timetable has not been announced, but which aims to prevent the outbreak of war between Israel and Lebanon.
The Israeli Defense Minister’s office said – in a statement – “Minister Gallant stressed the determination of the Israeli defense establishment to change the security reality in northern Israel and along the border with Lebanon.”
He added that Gallant “stressed the top priority of enabling more than 80,000 displaced Israelis to return to their homes.”
“New reality”
Gallant continued, “There is only one possible outcome: a new reality on the northern scene that will enable the safe return of our citizens.”
He added, “However, we find ourselves at a crossroads. There is a short window of time for diplomatic understandings, which is what we prefer… We will not tolerate the threats posed by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, and we will guarantee the security of our citizens.”
Israel had asked the residents of dozens of Israeli towns near the Lebanese border to leave with the start of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 7th.
Since the eighth of last October, mutual bombardment has continued daily between Hezbollah and the Palestinian factions in Lebanon on the one hand, and the Israeli army on the other hand, on both sides of the border.
In the past two days, fears of war erupting between Israel and Lebanon have increased after the assassination of Saleh Al-Arouri, the deputy head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), last Tuesday, by bombing in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, without Israel claiming responsibility for the assassination or denying responsibility for it.