The first diplomatic effort to end the war in Lebanon has failed.
Israel appears to have rejected ceasefire attempts by seven Western nations and three from the Middle East.
Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu stands accused of playing a double game, telling US diplomats he would approve a truce before publicly doing the opposite.
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The diplomatic failure will deepen the mood of gloom and despondency at the United Nations General Assembly, which is now overshadowed completely by the Lebanon war.
There had been a sense of optimism late last night when US diplomats talked of a ceasefire being implemented ‘in the coming hours’. They were so confident they talked of a 21-day truce.
G7 countries including Britain echoed that sense of hope. Countries with diplomatic channels open with Iran and Lebanon were sounding positive about Hezbollah complying too.
But the news provoked anger in Israel even at the highest levels of government.
This is no time to ease the pressure on Hezbollah, said ministers. “There will be no ceasefire in the north,” Israel’s foreign minister bluntly tweeted.
According to Israeli media, Western diplomats claim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu privately agreed to a ceasefire with US interlocutors but then distanced himself from the idea in public.
Western diplomats have become used to such ambiguity from the Israeli leader over Gaza, too.
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Last night the Biden administration was confident enough of success to say this to Sky News and other organisations: “I can share that we have had this conversation with the parties and felt this was the right moment, based on the call, based on our discussion, they’re familiar with the texts and we’ll let them speak to their actions. We’re expecting the deal in the coming hours.”
That confidence appears to have been misplaced. Trust between the US and Netanyahu government will have been dealt yet another blow.
Benjamin Netanyahu will have a chance to explain himself when he addresses the UN General Assembly on Friday morning.