Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has given his consent to an arranged sixty-day cease fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. However, he faces opposition from hardliners from within his own cabinet. The decision to give consent was revealed in a leak by an Israeli news paper citing high-level sources. This news outlet went on to say that Netanyahu will hold a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday yesterday (November 26) to get its nod on the truce plan. Although the Israeli regime was working towards a ceasefire in the short term, the broader war against the Shi’ite militant group will continue with out fail, according to the news report.
Hezbollah has been trading fire and attacking Israeli troops ever since war between Israel and Hamas broke out last year. Hezbollah has been maintaining that it was attacking Israeli targets to support Hamas. The hostilities escalated after series of pager blasts that killed 42 people and injured thousands of people in Lebanon. It was alleged that Israeli spy agency Mossad was behind the blasts as it wanted to cripple Hezbollah’s communication capabilities. Israeli (government) soon launched attacks on Lebanese targets including the capital Beirut. The Israeli cabinet meet to discuss ceasefire is scheduled to take place between 5:30 pm and 9 pm (local time). CNN has reported that talks over ceasefire are moving in positive direction.
However, media reports have also mentioned opposition to the deal from within Netanyahu’s government.
The hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition seem to be quite eager to fan the flames of their war against Gaza and Lebanon. While the war has taken its toll on the Israeli economy, Hamas and now Hezbollah’s decision to fire rockets into Israeli territory have led to the Zionist regime becoming heavy handed in its tactics. Pager attacks refer to an electronic detonation via satellite of a cell phone or walkie talkie. The explosive potential of these devices indicate they are very dangerous. This is especially true of the elements and materials that make up these devices. Mossad is certainly capable of performing an appropriate job of crippling Hezbollah’s communications. It is proving to be both brutal and efficient. But now the decision to call for a ceasefire indicates that the Israelis can no longer lead a war on two fronts.
The coalition partners in Netanyahu’s cabinet are not in agreement. Meanwhile with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) looming over Netanyahu’s head not everyone is in agreement that this is the best option.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called for negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but remained cautious when asked about the possibility of the Israeli leader’s arrest during a visit to Italy. Tajani commented on the ICC’s recent decision to issue an international arrest warrant against Netanyahu, former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohamed Deif. “We must always be realistic; we must seek to achieve peace. Israel is a country, a democracy”, he said, saying that equating Netanyahu and Gallant with Deif was “unrealistic”. “Such decisions only serve to prolong the war, giving strength to Hezbollah and Iran, which fundamentally do not want to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel,” he said.
The Italian Foreign Minister appears to be out of touch with reality himself. The same can possibly be said of the entire Italian government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Israel may to a certain extent be a ‘democracy’ but it was one of the few countries in the world that does not have a written constitution. The right-wing administration of Meloni should be compelled to define what they believe the meaning of democracy is. Netanyahu and his own government of right-wing ministers like Gallant have long since being trying to under mine the Israeli political system and the little representation that exists under it. The so-called judicial reforms that would give Netanyahu’s ruling coalition power to over-rule the judiciary is a clear example of authoritarianism.
Netanyahu has long been heavy handed in his tactics to quell dissent, the same can be said of Gallant. I say the arrest warrant is correct to include them alongside Hamas leader Muhammad Deif. Rome should reflect on its own colonial and political history before it preaches to the international media about democracy. If they choose to welcome Netanyahu then that should show where there true loyalties lie.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
