Netanyahu Delays Voting on Agreement with Lebanon after Hezbollah's Rejection

SadaNews Translation - The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday morning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to postpone the vote on a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon following the announcement by Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Naeem Qassem, rejecting it.

He held a meeting of the security and political mini-cabinet (the "kitchen cabinet") on Thursday evening to vote on the agreement that was reached with Lebanon under the mediation of the United States after a series of negotiation rounds.

According to the Hebrew newspaper, as translated by SadaNews, the majority of the cabinet ministers oppose the agreement that was detailed to them during the cabinet meeting.

According to the newspaper, Netanyahu told the ministers that there is no agreement at the moment, and Hezbollah opposes it, so he will not make a decision. If they agree, he will present the matter to them for a vote and approval.

The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, only participated at the beginning of the meeting and did not speak much. During the discussion, the ministers received a briefing about the killing of an officer in an attack that occurred in southern Lebanon, which increased the ministers' outrage and they demanded not to approve any agreement.

Cabinet Minister Eli Cohen called for action to dismantle Hezbollah, while Zeev Elkin demanded a response to Hezbollah's attacks and to intensify operations. Meanwhile, ministers from the far-right, including Orit Strock, called for not listening to the Americans and moving forward with the attacks and changing the current policy by attacking Beirut.

Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Netanyahu to bring with him children from the residents of Kiryat Shmona and Metula to the United States to meet Donald Trump, to tell him: "We love you, but we must respond to Hezbollah's attacks by targeting its weak points in Beirut, even if the military confrontation escalates. Ultimately, the lives of our soldiers and citizens are the most important, and we will achieve victory."

While Bezalel Smotrich stated: A ceasefire under these constraints would be a tremendous achievement for our enemies.