Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps
Some Israelis worry the US president might force them to accept an unsatisfactory agreement driven by his inability to secure a tangible achievement in Iran.
TEL AVIV — Officials in Israel view President Donald Trump’s unilateral declaration of a three-week Lebanon ceasefire on Thursday as a move born of desperation rather than a sign of holding out hope for a historic peace deal between the neighboring countries.
"Unfortunately, there is not much chance that we will see lemonade from this lemon either," a senior Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor, speaking on condition of anonymity, following the second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Thursday. "The president is desperate. He understands the situation in Iran — he understands that it will be difficult to present it as a victory — and is trying to compensate with some achievement in Lebanon.”
Scavenging for a peace deal
Trump, the senior Israeli diplomatic source said, is ignoring the weakness of the Lebanese government and its inability to impose a permanent ceasefire on Hezbollah and disarm the pro-Iranian militia. “The president does not understand that things take time in the Middle East. It is hard to see a real peace agreement between Beirut and Jerusalem at the end of this process,” the source added.
