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23 September 2024

Israel inches closer to decision on northern operation against Hezbollah

Seth Frantzman

Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on September 16. The meetings happened a day after Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen launched a long-range missile at central Israel. They also came amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel and a push for Israel to launch a military operation to clear the Iranian-backed group from Israel’s northern border.

Netanyahu met with Hochstein in Tel Aviv at the Kirya, the site of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and discussed Hezbollah’s threat. “The Prime Minister made it very clear that it will not be possible to return our residents without a fundamental change in the security situation in the north,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office noted. Netanyahu said Israel would do what is necessary to protect its security and bring back the 60,000 Israelis who have been evacuated since Hezbollah began its attacks on Israel last October.

Gallant also met with Hochstein, along with US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, in a separate meeting at Ministry of Defense Headquarters, according to a statement from his office. Other attendees were Shachar Katz, Gallant’s chief of staff, Brigadier General Guy Markizano, Gallant’s military secretary, and Brigadier General Benny Gal, head of the IDF’s Strategic Division.

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