Israeli minister rejects ceasefire proposal

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich  rejected a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon on September 26th, calling instead for the “crushing” of the Lebanese outfit Hezbollah, according to the Arab News via AFP.

The US, EU and a number of Arab states issued a joint call for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon following Israeli air strikes in the country that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands over the past week.

The call came hours after Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on September 25th told soldiers to prepare for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon.

Smotrich, a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, opposed the idea, insisting that the only way forward was to continue the conflict.

READ: Smotrich says dead Palestinians should be publicly paraded

“The campaign in the north should end with a single result: crushing Hezbollah and elimination of its ability to harm the residents of the north,” Smotrich said on X.

“The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows it has suffered and reorganize itself to continue the war after 21 days,” he said.
“Hezbollah’s surrender or war — this is the only way to bring back the residents and security to the north and the country.”

In a separate statement on X, opposition leader Yair Lapid said the Israeli government should only agree to a seven-day ceasefire.

This would “prevent Hezbollah from restoring its command and control systems,” Lapid said.

“We will not accept any proposal that does not include the withdrawal of Hezbollah from our northern border.”

Both Smotrich and far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have also been strong advocates of continuing the war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been battling Palestinians led by Hamas since October 7th.

The war began when Hamas attacked Israel on that date last year, and Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel a day later in what is says is an act of solidarity with Hamas.

READ: US and France working on interim Lebanon peace accord

Since then Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in cross-border clashes, which came to a head this week when Israel launched a devastating bombardment in southern Lebanon in the deadliest violence the country has seen since the 1975-1990 civil war.

AFP.