The response to the recent Israeli raids in Beirut will be attacks on “downtown Tel Aviv“. This is the threat from Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem, in light of the bombings that in recent days killed members of the pro-Iranian Shiite group, including spokesman Mohammed Afif.
Hezbollah has also made it known that it will not accept any ceasefire agreement that violates Lebanon’s “sovereignty”. “Israel cannot impose its conditions on us,” Qassem said in the pre-recorded speech, calling for “a total end to aggression and the defense of Lebanon’s sovereignty.” “The Israeli enemy cannot enter Lebanese territory whenever he wants” in the event of a ceasefire, he added, indirectly responding to the words of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, according to whom a truce cannot ignore “freedom of action” for Israel towards Hezbollah.
«We have received the negotiating document, we have studied it carefully and we have made some observations on the matter – underlined Qassem in his third public speech since becoming leader of Hezbollah on 29 October, referring to the American proposal -. The President of Parliament, Nabih Berri, also expressed his comments, which are in line with ours.” Qassem explained that he “negotiated on the basis of two principles, the first, a complete and total ceasefire, and the second, the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty.”
#hit #center #Tel #Aviv #truce #Tempo
How do the political agendas of Israel and Hezbollah influence their respective actions in the current situation?
## Interview with Middle East Expert on Israel-Lebanon Conflict
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Tensions are running high in the Middle East as Israel continues airstrikes in Lebanon. Joining us today is Dr. [Expert Name], an expert on Middle Eastern politics and conflict. Dr. [Expert Name], thanks for being here.
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Can you give us some context on the current situation? Why is Israel attacking Lebanon, specifically Hezbollah?
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** The recent escalation stems from a complex interplay of factors. Israel claims these attacks are preemptive, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel in response to rocket fire into Israel.
[cite: [1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/24/middleeast/israel-strikes-lebanon-hezbollah-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html)]
**Host:** Hezbollah has responded with threats of retaliation. What can we expect to see in the coming days?
**Dr. [Expert Name]: ** Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, has threatened attacks on Tel Aviv in response to the Israeli airstrikes. He also stated Hezbollah will not accept any ceasefire that compromises Lebanon’s sovereignty.
[cite: Interview subject matter]
Notably, he criticized the idea of allowing Israel to freely operate against Hezbollah, challenging Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s recent statement. This suggests a potential stalemate where both sides are unwilling to back down.
**Host:** What are the major concerns in this situation? What are the potential consequences?
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** The major concern is a further escalation of violence. The situation has already resulted in significant casualties with nearly 500 Lebanese lives lost in a single day alone.
[cite: [1](https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/24/middleeast/israel-strikes-lebanon-hezbollah-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html)]
This could easily spiral into a full-fledged war with devastating consequences for both Lebanon and Israel, and potentially the entire region. The involvement of international actors further complicates the situation and raises the risk of a wider conflict.
**Host:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. [Expert Name]. This is a fluid situation, and we will continue to follow it closely.
**Dr. [Expert Name]:** Thank you for having me.
