Netanyahu Withholds Cabinet Ceasefire Vote Amid Hezbollah Rejection and Mounting Opposition
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not present a ceasefire resolution concerning Lebanon to the Security Cabinet, following Hezbollah Secretary-General Na'im Qassem's explicit rejection of any such understandings. Israeli government ministers, during a discussion held last night in the political-security cabinet, expressed strong opposition to a ceasefire with Lebanon. According to Hebrew media reports, no vote was taken on any proposed agreement. Netanyahu stated, "There is no agreement currently, and Hezbollah opposes it, therefore I will not propose a resolution. If they agree, I will present it to you for approval." The Chief of Staff participated at the beginning of the meeting, but his involvement was limited. During the deliberations, ministers were briefed on the death of Israeli Armored Corps officer Captain Eitan Shmuel Lemberg in southern Lebanon, which further fueled the opposition of some ministers to a ceasefire. In this context, Minister Eli Cohen remarked, "We must be honest with ourselves. We need to change their perception of such attacks." Minister Ze'ev Elkin, for his part, noted, "The other side does not want a ceasefire. We can wait a little, but we must respond." Minister Orit Strock advocated for "changing the borders. We must move in this direction." National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir addressed Netanyahu, urging him to travel to the United States with children from Kiryat Shmona and Metula, and to tell presumptive US President "Trump," "We love you, but we must respond to Hezbollah's weaknesses, and we need a broad military operation." In contrast, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opined that "a ceasefire under these circumstances would be a great achievement." Hezbollah Secretary-General Na'im Qassem had earlier announced his rejection of the proposed ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon, which stipulated that his party would cease fire and withdraw from the area south of the Litani River. Qassem added that "the result of direct, humiliating, and shameful negotiations is rejected by wide segments of the Lebanese people." He emphasized that he would not agree to any ceasefire as long as Israeli forces remained in Lebanon. Qassem further stated, "Washington's declaration conditions the basic principles America and Israel want, which is the subjugation of Lebanon to the Greater Israel project." Shortly after Na'im Qassem's speech, alarms were activated following hostile drone incursions into several towns in the Western Galilee, with one drone exploding near the settlement of Shlomi. This incident occurred approximately 20 minutes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz had departed from the settlement, where they had met with local authority leaders.
