The Israeli cabinet is set to vote on a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah on Tuesday, November 26, following approval “in principle” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his spokesperson announced on Monday. Sources say Netanyahu signaled his support for the ceasefire during a security meeting with Israeli officials on Sunday night, according to CNN.
The spokesperson added that the Israeli cabinet’s vote is expected to pass, although Israel still has reservations about some aspects of the agreement. These details, which were expected to be shared with Lebanon on Monday, are still being negotiated, and the deal will not be finalized until all concerns are addressed.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the ceasefire as a “big mistake,” calling it a “historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.” Ben Gvir has previously opposed ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Benny Gantz, who resigned from Israel’s war cabinet in June over Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza conflict, urged the prime minister to make the ceasefire details public. “It is the right of the residents of the north, the fighters, and the citizens of Israel to know,” Gantz stated.
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, speaking in Beirut last week, said a ceasefire deal was “within our grasp” but ultimately depended on the parties involved. He met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah’s main interlocutor, and described the discussions as “constructive” and “very good.” Hochstein emphasized the opportunity to end the conflict, saying, “The window is now” before departing for Israel to push the negotiations forward.
The U.S.-backed proposal aims for a 60-day ceasefire, which some hope could lead to a lasting peace. The conflict began in mid-September after months of border skirmishes, triggered by a Hezbollah attack on Israeli-controlled territory in October 2023 in support of Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. Since then, Israel has launched a ground invasion, killed several Hezbollah leaders—including one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah—and caused numerous casualties with airstrikes.
