WHY SHOULD HEZBOLLAH ABIDE BY AN AGREEMENT IT WAS NOT A PARTY TO?

Hezbollah violates ceasefire as tensions heat up on northern border

 

By Lilach Shoval 

 

Israel Hayom

Dec 2, 2024

 

 

 

A woman holding a photo of now-eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Arabic inscription reading "We are with you" 

 

The IDF confirmed Monday that Hezbollah breached the ceasefire agreement by firing two mortars toward the Mount Dov (Sheba Farms) region, with no casualties reported in the incident. In a statement, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting an IDF position in the Mount Dov area while accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire terms through military strikes and unauthorized flights over Lebanese airspace, including Beirut's skies.

"A short while ago, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched two projectiles toward the area of Har Dov [Sheba Farms]," the IDF said on X. "The projectiles fell in open areas. No injuries are reported." Shortly after the incident, Lebanon media said that Israel attacked the Nabatiyeh region in southern Lebanon, with several casualties. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed a "tough response" to Hezbollah's actions and Prime Minister, and Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, saying, "Hezbollah launches are a grave breach of the ceasefire, and Israel will respond forcefully." He added, "We are determined to continue enforcing the ceasefire and retaliate for every violation by Hezbollah, be it minor or major."

French diplomatic efforts have intensified to prevent Israeli responses to ceasefire violations on Lebanese territory, with Paris seeking American support for this initiative. Messages from Washington to Israel over the weekend suggested that the IDF was "enforcing the agreement too rigidly" – a notably milder criticism than recent French statements. Israeli officials dismissed these concerns, maintaining that until the monitoring mechanism becomes effective, Israel will continue enforcement in line with US understandings.

In response to Israel's firm stance, French officials indicated that the monitoring mechanism – designed to process Israeli violation complaints and facilitate Lebanese army enforcement – would be operational by week's end. During discussions between Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his French counterpart, Saar emphasized that despite IDF reports of violations, French authorities have failed to enforce the agreement. The French Foreign Minister responded that they "have not yet received authority to act from the Lebanese government," prompting Israel to assert its right to independent enforcement.

A diplomatic source elaborated yesterday that "there are understandings with the US, according to the side document, that we can act without complaint to the mechanism if it involves an immediate or time-sensitive threat." Israeli officials explain that recent actions in Lebanese territory addressed immediate threats requiring a swift response, precluding committee consultation.