According to officials cited by The Jerusalem Post, Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot afford to be seen as yielding to American-Iranian pressure to pull out of Lebanon, after presenting the hold on the security zone as a strategic achievement. The assessment comes as international pressure on Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon continues.
Officials cited by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday evening assess that a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon would amount to political suicide for Prime Minister Netanyahu. The assessment holds that Netanyahu cannot afford to be seen as folding under American-Iranian pressure, after presenting the IDF's hold on the security zone in southern Lebanon as a strategic achievement.
This is the latest in a series of reports and assessments regarding the pressure on Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon. As The Zioneer has reported, Israeli officials have warned that US demands for withdrawal are only a matter of time, and that American pressure would intensify as US-Iran talks progress. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israeli forces are not leaving Lebanon, calling withdrawal a 'red line'.
The officials' assessment comes as diplomatic discussions over the northern front continue, with no official change in Israel's stated position. The report did not include named sources or further details on the nature of the pressure.
- StrongNetanyahu tells aides withdrawal from southern Lebanon is a 'red line' as US pressure mounts
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Israeli forces are not leaving Lebanon
- StrongIsraeli fears: Trump pressure on Netanyahu over south Lebanon withdrawal to persist after Iran MOU
- StrongChannel reports US applying heavy pressure on Netanyahu to withdraw from Lebanon
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake