Israeli media: Gallant advises cabinet to avoid war with Lebanon

Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant tried to find a way to “de-escalate with Lebanon” during a cabinet meeting, but was unable to convince Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli media reported on Saturday.

The media stated that during the Cabinet meeting, Gallant described in detail the discussions that had taken place during his visit to the United States.

They stated that Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that “it would be good if it were possible to prevent a war with Lebanon through agreements.”

Israeli media reported that Ben-Gvir “believed there should be a war anyway,” and Dermer told him that even if there was a war in Lebanon, it would “ultimately end through agreements.”

Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs also expressed support for pursuing agreements that would prevent war with Lebanon.

According to Israeli media, everyone in the cabinet, except Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, now believes that “war can ultimately be avoided and an agreement reached.”

During a recent visit to the United States, Gallant discussed with American politicians important issues related to the ongoing wars of the Israeli occupation forces, focusing particularly on the major fronts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

According to a report by The New York TimesAmerican officials noted a marked shift in Gallant’s stance toward what he had previously called the “destruction of Hamas and Hezbollah.”

Following the Palestinian resistance’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, Gallant initially held the view that “Israel should have responded by trying to destroy both Hamas and Hezbollah.” However, his view has evolved and now suggests that “opening a new front would be undesirable.”

The newspaper highlighted that US officials believe the Israeli government is divided over the wisdom of “opening a larger front with Hezbollah in the north.”

The New York Times He also mentioned that US officials have expressed that stopping fighting in Gaza is the surest way to “reduce tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.”

Israeli attack on Lebanon poses risk of regional war

At a meeting at the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Gallant that given growing concerns about a massive war, diplomacy was the best choice.

Austin told reporters that another war would spread throughout the region and have “terrible consequences for the Middle East,” adding that diplomacy was “by far the best way to prevent further escalation.”

Earlier this week, Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown warned that a large-scale Israeli attack on Lebanon would risk an Iranian response and could trigger a broader war that could endanger U.S. forces in the region.

Brown told reporters in Botswana that in the event of a broader war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the US would probably not be able to help Israel “defend itself” as well as it did in April.

He pointed to the penetrating power of Hezbollah’s short-range munitions, which are more difficult to intercept for several reasons.

The general said the US would continue to engage with Israeli leaders and warn them against escalating the war in the region.

Brown’s comments come against a backdrop of Israeli political and military leadership threatening Lebanon with war.

Earlier, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations warned on Saturday that a full-scale Israeli attack on Lebanon would lead to a “devastating” war and put all options “on the table.”

“Although Iran considers the Zionist regime’s propaganda about attacking Lebanon as psychological warfare, should it escalate into full-scale military aggression, it will be a devastating war. All options, including the full participation of all resistance fronts, are on the table,” the mission said at X.

Although Iran considers the Zionist regime’s propaganda about attacking Lebanon as psychological warfare, if it resorts to full-scale military aggression, it will result in a devastating war. All options, including the full participation of all resistance fronts, are on the table.

— IRIRAN Mission to the United Nations, NY (@Iran_UN) June 28, 2024

Read more: Former IOF chief: Biden suggests Israel is alone in the war with Lebanon