“Netanyahu’s government has been under pressure from the far-right to keep the pressure on Hamas, to keep the pressure on Gaza,” Schenker said in an interview. “And he’s been under pressure from the center-left to end the war, to end the fighting.”
Despite those pressures, Netanyahu chose to endorse the ceasefire, which was negotiated by the U.S. with help from France, Egypt, and Russia.
“He’s been able to keep his government together, but they’re not happy with the way the war has been going,” Schenker said. “He knows that there’s not a lot of political appetite in Israel for another long-term conflict in Gaza.”
The deal, which is set to go into effect on December 1, will see Israel lift its air and sea blockades of Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah withdrawing its forces from the border. Israel will also allow the return of Lebanese fishermen to waters off the coast of Israel in exchange for a reduction in Hezbollah’s missile stockpile.
Biden said that the deal represented “a new era of peace and stability in the region,” and thanked the French, Egyptians, and Russians for their help in negotiating it.
But he added that the situation in Gaza remains “fluid,” and that the U.S. will continue to work toward a ceasefire there.
“The deal with Lebanon is a significant step forward, but it’s just the beginning,” Biden said. “We remain committed to bringing an end to the violence in Gaza and ensuring the safety and security of all parties involved.”
As for Gaza, Slavin said that the situation remains “desperate,” with millions of Palestinians living under occupation and suffering from a lack of basic necessities.
“The situation in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe,” she said. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The people there are suffering, and the longer the war goes on, the worse it gets.”
She added that the U.S. has a role to play in resolving the conflict, and that Biden is right to continue to push for a ceasefire.
“The U.S. has a lot of influence in the region, and we need to use it to help bring an end to the violence,” Slavin said. “It’s not going to be easy, but it’s worth the effort to try.”
For now, though, the situation remains uncertain, with both sides in Gaza continuing to dig in for a long fight.
“It’s a tough situation,” Schenker said. “But there’s hope that we can find a way forward.”
Only time will tell if that hope is justified.
Cabinet ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir have expressed interest in reestablishing Israeli settlements in Gaza, with Smotrich suggesting that Israel should encourage voluntary Palestinian emigration to pave the way for civilian authority in the region.
On the other hand, President Biden prefers to involve the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s postwar leadership, a stance that differs from Netanyahu’s coalition partners who seek to settle Gaza and exclude the Palestinian Authority from playing a role.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza allows Netanyahu to avoid discussions about the “day after,” according to experts. However, Biden’s negotiator believes that Hamas may be more willing to agree to a ceasefire now that Hezbollah is no longer involved in the conflict.
Despite pressure on Hamas, the group has not shown signs of softening its stance in negotiations. The removal of Lebanon from the equation could provide relief to Israel, as it would ease pressure on society and the economy.
While Gaza may remain a low-intensity insurgency for the foreseeable future, Israel’s focus may shift to other regional actors such as militias in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, who are involved in Iran’s proxy war against Israel.
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