All-out war against Hezbollah won’t improve situation, Biden envoy tells Netanyahu and DM Gallant

Israel ‘will do what is necessary,’ Israeli leaders respond

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White House envoy Amos Hochstein warned Israel’s leadership that launching an all-out war against Hezbollah won’t improve Israel’s situation, and would instead risk a prolonged regional war, Israeli media reported.

Hochstein, who is leading U.S. efforts to reach a diplomatic arrangement between Israel and Hezbollah, arrived on Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“Amos’s travels are very much a continuation of the diplomacy that he’s been conducting now for many months to try to prevent a second front from opening up in the north there,” a White House spokesman stated last week.

Israeli leadership has made it increasingly clear that it views a military operation in southern Lebanon as the only remaining option to safely return the approximately 60,000 evacuated residents of northern Israel to their homes.

In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said he “made it clear in a determined and decisive manner in his conversation with the envoy Hochstein that it will not be possible to return our residents without a fundamental change in the security situation in the north.”

While Israel “appreciates and respects the support of the United States,” the prime minister cautioned that the Jewish state would ultimately do “what is necessary to safeguard its security and return the residents of the north securely to their homes.”

Despite tensions between the two leaders reportedly being at a boiling point, Gallant concurred with Netanyahu, telling Hochstein that “the possibility for an agreement is running out as Hezbollah continues to ‘tie itself’ to Hamas, and refuses to end the conflict.”

“Therefore, the only way left to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes will be via military action,” Gallant stated.

Hochstein warned Gallant that a major Israeli ground offensive would not have the desired outcome, and would instead risk a prolonged regional war, the Times of Israel reported.

The Biden administration reportedly continues to support a diplomatic solution, either linked to a potential Gaza ceasefire – that appears to be less likely as each day passes – or through other means.

Netanyahu told security heads last week that Israel Defense Forces is preparing for “a broad campaign of one intensity or another” on the northern front.

Israel’s Security Cabinet was set to meet Monday evening in Tel Aviv after Gallant’s and Netanyahu’s meetings with Hochstein, with the main topic of discussions reportedly being the escalating tensions on the northern border and possible plans to resolve the situation.