A damaged vehicle and debris resulting from Israeli nighttime air strikes targeting the village of Abbassiyeh in southern Lebanon on October 31, 2024. Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP
Positive signs suddenly emerged from all sides. On Wednesday, the Israeli media reported an unexpected breakthrough in the cease-fire negotiations in Lebanon. In Beirut, however, the issue was handled with particular caution, although the Americans seemed to be taking the matter seriously, conveyed through U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein's visit to Tel Aviv on Thursday, accompanied by White House coordinator for the Middle East, Brett McGurk.The Lebanese perceived that this activity could lead to some progress, especially as McGurk could exert more pressure on the Israelis. Yet, this visit, made a few days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, is mainly tied to political calculations at a time when the Biden administration strives towards a long-term agreement — or at least a few-days long cease-fire — to improve the Democrats’ electoral...
Positive signs suddenly emerged from all sides. On Wednesday, the Israeli media reported an unexpected breakthrough in the cease-fire negotiations in Lebanon. In Beirut, however, the issue was handled with particular caution, although the Americans seemed to be taking the matter seriously, conveyed through U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein's visit to Tel Aviv on Thursday, accompanied by White House coordinator for the Middle East, Brett McGurk.The Lebanese perceived that this activity could lead to some progress, especially as McGurk could exert more pressure on the Israelis. Yet, this visit, made a few days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, is mainly tied to political calculations at a time when the Biden administration strives towards a long-term agreement — or at least a few-days long cease-fire — to improve the Democrats’...
