A Welcome Ceasefire

Terry H. Schwadron

Nov. 27, 2024

One can only hope that the announced ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah/Lebanon takes hold. With bombings in Beirut continuing nearly until the announcements in Tel Aviv and Washington, the moment deserves congratulation — even if for 60 days of trial and withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces.

As usual, the ceasefire will be in place beginning today only until the next attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Joe Biden and U.S. officials for brokering the arrangement, adding that Israel thought the agreement would help in three ways: Danger from Hezbollah had been degraded to allow focus on threats from Iran, the cessation would isolate remaining Hamas forces in Gaza, and Israel gets a chance to replenish its own weapons systems. The Lebanese Army was committed to barring Hezbollah rebuilding efforts.

So, even with the best face that Biden, who clearly had put a lot of work in cajoling the parties into agreement, was putting on the deal, the fragility of war and peace in the Middle East looks to be more temporary than not. Biden had the unusual support of Donald Trump for a deal that is significant and hard-won — with no personal gain to be had.

The expansion of the fighting into Lebanon had itself seemed to carry the seeds of a far wider conflict. Indeed, a U.S. State Department spokesperson described the process as “incredibly frustrating.”

Northern Israelis displaced by Hezbollah’s missiles presumably can safely return home. Lebanon can turn its attention to more than 40 communities basically wiped off the map.

If anything, the ceasefire announcement should show Hamas that a deal is possible. It remains unclear whether either Hamas or Israel wants one that does not provide total domination in the region.

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