CNN —
On Wednesday night, U.S. officials effectively won a victory. The United States and many allies have solidified a proposal for a ceasefire across the Israeli-Lebanese border after days of heated talks.
In a hastily scheduled phone call with reporters shortly after the joint statement was released, senior government officials hailed the framework as an “important breakthrough.” A 21-day cessation of fighting proposed by each country would give time for diplomacy and potentially prevent a full-scale war from breaking out between Israel and Hezbollah.
These officials were clear. The question is not whether Israel and Hezbollah will accept a ceasefire offer, but when exactly. One official said the US was comfortable making the framework public, with the understanding that both Israel and Hezbollah were “familiar with the text” and both sides were prepared to sign it.
But just hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu poured cold water on the multinational proposal. First, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement saying that reports of an impending ceasefire were “false” and that the IDF would continue fighting “with all our might.”
The prime minister himself told reporters after getting off the plane in New York City: “My policy, my policy, is clear: We will continue to attack Hezbollah with all our might. We will not stop until we have achieved all our goals.” yeah.”
Nearly 24 hours after the White House announced the proposed ceasefire, there is still no sign that Israel and Hezbollah are ready to agree to it. Israel’s initial reaction is clearly not what the White House expected, and if Israel is on board with the proposal, why do leaders seem so intent on rejecting it? An immediate question arose:
“We are shocked,” one U.S. official said, underscoring deep frustration as he had expected Israel to accept the offer.
“It’s not a complete surprise, but it’s not helpful,” said another U.S. official.
There are hushed whispers in Washington that domestic politics may be influencing Netanyahu, as right-wing Israeli ministers on whom he relies to maintain his coalition government express outrage over reports of a U.S.-backed ceasefire. It was flowing.
One U.S. source suggested that the Israeli government was swayed by the negative domestic reaction to the proposal, saying that unless there were strong personal signals that the Israeli side was ready to accept the proposal, the U.S. He expressed his dissatisfaction, saying he could not have been more optimistic. framework.
The people said they do not expect negotiations to conclude within days and expect the process to be long. He added that Hezbollah would not feel pressure unless Israel publicly accepted it.
U.S. officials felt confident Wednesday in announcing the proposal, in part because they had interacted with Ron Dermer, one of Netanyahu’s closest confidants, in writing and revising the statement. Ta. Discussions about the ceasefire began Monday with a conversation between Mr. Dermer and Mr. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.
U.S. officials were under the impression that Netanyahu would support a cessation of fighting and were encouraged to work with French officials to put together a statement urging a 21-day ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech on Thursday that it would be a “mistake” for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refuse a ceasefire, but added that the US must increase pressure on Israel to accept terms.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s apparent reversal came as a huge disappointment, but for some officials it also underscored the reality that has been going on for months, especially in the face of political opposition within Israel. It also emphasized his willingness to openly break with Biden.
“Israel shares the objective of the U.S.-led effort to ensure the safe and secure return of people along its northern border to their homes,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement Thursday night.
“Israel appreciates the efforts of the United States,” the statement said, pledging to continue talks “in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, White House officials continued to face a barrage of reporters all day Thursday without a good answer.
Asked about the apparent disconnect between the United States and Israel, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the multinational statement was “certainly coordinated with the Israeli side.” Talks between the negotiating parties in New York were “ongoing,” she continued, but could not explain why Prime Minister Netanyahu and his office seemed to have no interest in agreeing to a temporary ceasefire. .
White House Press Secretary John Kirby was even more candid in admitting that he was unable to provide an adequate explanation for Netanyahu’s comments. “I cannot speak for Prime Minister Netanyahu. I cannot answer the question of why he made such a statement,” he told reporters.
“What I can say is that the statements we reviewed last night were not just made out of thin air,” Kirby added. “This was done after careful consultation not only with the countries that signed the agreement, but also with Israel itself.”
Kirby even acknowledged that the plan would not have been announced Wednesday night if the United States did not believe in the cooperation of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government.
For now, administration officials continue to insist that talks are ongoing and expressed hope that news could arrive within hours. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with senior Israeli officials in New York on Thursday afternoon, as many US officials accept the possibility that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not go along.
Dermer and Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog demurred when asked by CNN ahead of the meeting whether they would accept a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Dermer quipped that “less is more” when speaking as a diplomat, noting that the days of talks were just beginning.
This story has been updated with additional details.
