Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held high-level security meetings last night to discuss a potential diplomatic solution to end the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and return the 80,000+ displaced Israelis back to their homes in the north.
The discussions came as two senior White House advisers — Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk — travel to Israel to try to finalize a deal. They are expected to arrive tomorrow.
According to Israeli reports, the current Israeli diplomatic proposal includes:
Expansion and full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 (click here to read an AIPAC background memo on Resolution 1701).
Increased deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at the border with Israel, and inclusion of more reliable countries in UNIFIL.
An international oversight and enforcement mechanism where violations can be reported.
Freedom of operation for the IDF if the LAF and UNIFIL fail to respond to violations of the agreement.
Prevention of Hezbollah rearming in the future.
A 60-day ceasefire during which the agreement would be finalized.
While visiting the IDF Northern Command base in Safed yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reflected on the IDF’s successes in Lebanon.
"We eliminated Hezbollah’s political and military chain of command and control in the most impressive way possible," Gallant said. "I estimate the remaining missile and rocket capability at around 20 percent, and even that isn’t organized in the way it used to be organized, in a way that [Hezbollah] can fire [large] barrages."
While Hezbollah at one point had more than 150,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, even Gallant’s estimate means the terror organization still has approximately 30,000 at its disposal.
Additionally, the IDF estimates that around 2,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed since Hezbollah began attacking Israel on October 8, including 1,200 who have been killed since the Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon began about a month ago.
Gallant added that "there is a deep connection between our strike in Iran and what is happening to Hezbollah… Iran understands that Hezbollah does not have the ability to respond, and Hezbollah understands that it cannot rely on Iran."
U.S. Marines complete first live-fire test using Israel's Iron Dome
In a significant step for U.S.-Israel defense cooperation, the U.S. Marine Corps just successfully completed its first live-fire test of an air-defense system incorporating Israel’s Iron Dome.
The system combines American and Israeli technology: U.S.-made radar and command-and-control systems, alongside Israel’s Iron Dome interceptor and mobile launcher.
"The Iron Dome system continues to save lives," Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization Moshe Patel said. "The Marine Corps live-fire test provides another proof of the Iron Dome interceptor's capability... The Defense Ministry welcomes all air defense cooperation with U.S. military branches."
U.N. Security Council "emergency session" highlights importance of U.S.-Israel relations, strength of Iran-Russia-China ties
At an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council called by Russia, China and Algeria at the request of Iran, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield pledged that Iran will suffer "severe consequences" if it continues to attack Israel and American troops.
Iran "seeks to gaslight and deflect, to claim the role of victim, while continuing to sow chaos across the region," Thomas-Greenfield said, adding that Iran should "stop pouring gasoline on the fire of regional conflict."
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said that "any further aggression [from Iran] will be met with consequences that are swift and decisive" and that the Security Council must impose "crippling sanctions" on the Iranian regime.
Iran’s U.N. ambassador called Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran "part of a broader, sustained pattern of aggression and unchecked impunity with which Israel continues to destabilize the entire region." China and Russia’s representatives expressed their support for Iran, criticizing U.S. support for Israel’s self-defense and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
This is another example of how U.S. adversaries Iran, Russia and China work together to undermine American interests and allies. The United States’ support for Israel on the world stage is essential to ensuring Israel’s ability to keep its people safe.
NEW AIPAC MEMO
UNRWA: An Obstacle to Peace that Must Be Replaced
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinians has long been criticized for perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and inciting violence against Israel.
The United States must institute a plan that ends American funding for UNRWA and urges our allies to do the same. Humanitarian aid to the Palestinians must be delivered through an alternative mechanism that promotes peaceful coexistence with Israel and is not indifferent to terror.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
AIPAC 251 H St. NW • Washington D.C. 20001 • TEL 202-639-5200
