Israel Chooses Diplomacy To End Conflict With Lebanese Hezbollah

UNSPLASH/Taylor Brandon ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Israel will spend the next few weeks trying to resolve the conflict with the Hezbollah group in Lebanon and prefer a diplomatic solution.

National security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said Israel had discussed with United States (US) officials about the possible end of Israel's military operations in Gaza would allow the achievement of a diplomatic "order" with Hezbollah.

Iran-backed Hezbollah began attacking Israel from the north shortly after the attack by the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas on October 7, 2023 in southern Israel, which sparked war in Gaza.

The shootings on Israel's northern border have left tens of thousands of people evacuated from the area on both sides of the border, and have escalated in recent weeks, raising fears of a massive conflict.

"We and America believe and we will dedicate weeks to reaching an agreement," Hanegbi said at the Herzliya conference.

"If there is no regulation through diplomatic channels, everyone understands that there must be arrangements in other ways. For now, we prefer to focus on diplomacy campaigns," he said.

Hanegbi also said Israel was in discussions with Washington over possible joint efforts by the United States, Europe and several Arab countries to seek a replacement for Hamas power in the Gaza Strip.