A senior Israeli diplomatic official revealed to Israel Hayom on Saturday evening that negotiations have achieved significant breakthrough toward a diplomatic settlement along the northern border. The source characterized the proposed agreement as highly advantageous to Israel's strategic interests, describing the progress as "very substantial," while maintaining discretion about specific details.
A second high-level government source, while confirming the positive developments, cautioned that final agreements remain pending. The source indicated that Israel's diplomatic strategy aims to ease pressure from the Biden administration during the transition period leading to Trump's inauguration.
The official emphasized that the IDF retains operational freedom to respond to any security threats from the northern border, regardless of any diplomatic arrangements or paper agreements.
Israeli officials express concern over the possibility of the United Nations Security Council adopting a unilateral resolution to end the war without facing an American veto. Nevertheless, a third diplomatic source asserted that Israel would only conclude military operations upon securing a satisfactory settlement, confirming that sophisticated negotiations toward such an agreement are currently advancing.
MK Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit offered a sharp critique of the Israel Hayom report regarding the emerging settlement, "Woe to us, we must force Hezbollah to beg for a ceasefire."
A similar response came from Knesset Member Tally Gotliv (Likud), who stated, "It would be disastrous if Israel considers stopping the fighting in the north merely due to concerns about a Security Council resolution! The recent unilateral pause in the north was already a mistake. We must continue to weaken Hezbollah until they beg for a ceasefire."
Earlier in November, diplomatic sources informed the Lebanese newspaper Al-Jumhuriya that an immediate settlement ending hostilities in Lebanon appeared unlikely. The assessment followed discussions between White House emissaries Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The sources interpret Israel's position as "a clear declaration of its intention to continue the war in Lebanon until achieving the objectives that Netanyahu's government is pursuing – some of which extend beyond damaging Hezbollah's capabilities and pushing it beyond the Litani River." According to the sources, this suggests an indefinite continuation of military operations.
