Israel wants Hezbollah away from the border, a lawmaker says.

An Israeli politician stated on Wednesday that his government was attempting to utilize diplomatic channels to drive Lebanon’s Hezbollah forces away from the border to prevent a war from breaking out there. However, an official close to the group stated that such thoughts were “unrealistic.”

Since October, Israel and Hezbollah, a group that receives support from Iran like the Palestinian organization does, have been fighting across the border in Lebanon. This conflict is taking place concurrently with Israel’s fight against Hamas in Gaza.

Since Israel and Hezbollah waged a war that lasted for half a month in 2006, the violence along the border is at an all-time high. If Hezbollah initiates yet another all-out war, Israel has stated that Beirut will be transformed like Gaza.

The head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli parliament, Yuli Edelstein, stated that Israel remained resolute in its efforts to put an end to the existence of Hezbollah on the border with Israel.

“This is a goal, I think, that we are trying to reach, at this stage, through diplomatic channels,” he told Reuters, adding that the alternative may be another war. There is a possibility that this could happen.

“We are turning to every normal country, be it the United States, France, Arab countries – anyone who could somehow influence the situation and has some influence in Lebanon.”

According to those who are aware of Hezbollah’s thought process, the strikes that they have carried out up to this point have been aimed at preventing an all-out battle.

A senior source from Lebanon informed Reuters that officials from the United States and France had been to Beirut to examine potential ways to offer Israel security guarantees that are based on restricting the role that Hezbollah plays on the border. He did not specify when the visits were carried out.

They were described as “unrealistic” by the official who is connected to the Hezbollah organization. As a result of the secret nature of the discussions, the official spoke under the condition of anonymity.

The most powerful organization in Lebanon is Hezbollah, which functions as a political party and possesses a militia that is highly equipped under its control.

On Wednesday, a prominent official from Hezbollah named Hassan Fadlallah made a statement that seemed to be a reference to Israeli demands over the border. He stated that Israel was “in no position to determine the future of others.”

He stated in public statements, “These are proposals that are not on (Hezbollah’s) agenda or the country’s agenda, and no one has spoken about them with us, and we are not prepared to even listen to them” without providing any specifics. He did not provide any information regarding the proposals.

A ‘OPEN’ FRONT STILL PRESENT
Citizens on both sides of the border have evacuated their houses ever since the violence at the border escalated. Residents of Israel are concerned that Hezbollah forces would carry out an operation that is comparable to the cross-border rampage that Hamas fighters carried out on October 7 and which was the impetus for the Gaza war.

Naim Qassem, the deputy head of Hezbollah, stated on Tuesday that the Lebanese front would “remain open all the while the aggression on Gaza continues.”

Edelstein said Israel did not wish to establish a new front in the northern region. He went on to say, “We will, if it will be necessary, if they will attack us—Hezbollah forces will attack us—and then we will have no choice.”

Israel’s defense minister referred to Resolution 1701 of the United Nations Security Council, enacted after the conflict’s conclusion in 2006. This resolution said no armed factions should exist between the Litani River in Lebanon and the border. Several kilometers (miles) separate the river from the boundary.

Officials from France stated that Paris desired to attend to all sides of the argument and advocate for the resolution to be implemented.

When Edelstein was asked how far Hezbollah should be driven back, he said, “I won’t get into tactical details, but we are definitely talking about miles.”

In addition, he stated that it was highly improbable that Israeli soldiers would attempt to occupy southern Lebanon once more, as they had done for the previous 18 years until they withdrew in the year 2000.

He stated that he believed there was a possibility of reaching a compromise, and he added that the alternative was to abandon Lebanon “in ruins.” He said Hezbollah “will have to think twice before breaking these agreements and challenging us on that.”