Former Israeli General Warns of Political Defeat for Tel Aviv Over Hezbollah’s Status in Ceasefire Talks
A former head of Israel’s military operations has stated that solidifying Hezbollah’s position in any potential ceasefire agreement would constitute a political defeat for Tel Aviv and that this pattern could also be repeated with Hamas. He warned that if such a scenario unfolds, Israel would face a threefold setback.
Yisrael Ziv wrote in the Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv that the situation of the Israeli army in Lebanon and other areas has become unusually dependent on the decisions and policies of Iran. He claimed that Tehran, through diplomatic interactions with the United States, plays an influential role in shaping the frameworks for ending the conflicts in Lebanon and even Gaza.
The former general also noted that the expansion of hostilities to southern Lebanese areas, including Nabatieh, has not only reduced the security of Israeli forces but also made their supply lines vulnerable. He believes this has exposed more targets to Hezbollah’s drone attacks and increased the costs on the battlefield.
Referring to airstrikes on Beirut, Ziv said these actions have not produced decisive results nor restored the previous balance of power. He added that some of Israel’s military gains during the war have been lost due to recent political developments.
The ex-military official further claimed that after the failure of the regime change project in Iran, Washington’s attention has shifted to other priorities, placing Israel in a more challenging position. He wrote that although opportunities for a different agreement existed after the 12-day war, these chances were missed.
Ziv emphasized that if a clause preserving Hezbollah’s status is included in a ceasefire deal, Israel will be unable to alter it, marking a serious political defeat for Tel Aviv. He warned that if Hamas is similarly included in the future agreement’s framework, this situation could become one of the most politically challenging periods in Israel’s history.
In conclusion, he stated that Israel is in a position that demands a fundamental reassessment of its security and political strategies—a situation he believes is unprecedented in recent years.
