Long-term peace between Israel and Lebanon contends with Hezbollahpublished at 00:25 BST 24 April
Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent
When Donald Trump announced the Israel-Lebanon truce extension from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, he was flanked by his vice-president and secretary of state, alongside ambassadors from each country.
Each of them lavished praise on the president with words about making history.
While significant, the ceasefire still amounts to an attempt to stem the renewed fighting that broke out when Trump himself, along with his Israeli allies, launched their war on Iran – any settlement of which is still elusive.
As for the desire to strike longer-term peace between Israel and Lebanon, it is highly ambitious and involves a demand for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The Iran-backed group has long been the most powerful force in Lebanon. But, the US and Israel believe its degradation – combined with Iran’s weakening over the last few years – creates an opportunity for Hezbollah’s demilitarisation.
However, for its own acquiescence in such an effort the Lebanese state needs strong pro quos – starting with Israel’s withdrawal from its current occupation and a guaranteed end to Israeli attacks, along with much more support from Washington to strengthen the formal Lebanese armed forces.
Hezbollah sees itself as the country’s only viable armed resistance to Israel, and a US formula involving only pressure and no incentives to dismantle it could fuel renewed sectarian tensions in Lebanon, which never fully recovered from its devastating 15-year civil war.
