Lapid at the cabinet meeting: the Biden administration is trying to pressure Lebanon to retract some of its comments

The Prime Minister said that the US is still working to reach an agreement on the border according to the original version that it formulated and asked to calm down the public statements.

Bennett expressed no opposition to the agreement - and even supported it.

Michaeli offered to update Netanyahu on the details so that he would withdraw his objection.

According to the Chief of Staff, the agreement preserves the security interest

Barak Ravid

06/10/2022

Thursday, October 6, 2022, 9:27 p.m. Updated: 9:48 p.m.

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share by email

• Share in general

• Comments

  Comments

In the video: Gantz threatens that if Hezbollah tries to sabotage the negotiations on the maritime border, all of Lebanon will pay the price (Go Live, Institute for Anti-Terrorism Policy at Reichman University)

Prime Minister Lapid said at the conclusion of the cabinet meeting that the Biden administration is trying to pressure Lebanon to retract some of its comments in order to reach an agreement on the maritime border according to the original wording drawn up by envoy Amos Hochstein.

"We need to avoid war cheers. We are trying to reach agreements even now," said Lapid according to several ministers who participated in the meeting.

why is it important

Senior Israeli officials stated that Israel hopes that the rejection of the Lebanese comments and the firm message that Israel conveyed to the Biden administration that it will not agree to any further compromise will result in American pressure on Lebanon.

Israel hopes that the strong message to the Biden administration will bring American pressure on Lebanon.

Biden (Photo: Reuters)

Behind the Scenes

According to four ministers who participated in the cabinet meeting, all ministers expressed support for the original version of the agreement and said that it serves Israeli interests and supported Lapid's decision to reject the Lebanese requests for amendments.

"No one said that the original agreement was not good," noted a minister who participated in the meeting.

Contrary to reports that he is considering vetoing the approval of the agreement, Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett did not express any objection.

Two ministers who participated in the meeting said that Bennett emphasized that this is a correct and good agreement and attacked opposition leader Netanyahu for "irresponsible statements" on the subject of the agreement.

During the meeting, Transportation Minister Rav Michaeli asked whether an attempt would be made to share with Netanyahu the details of the agreement so that he would understand that it is a good agreement and stop his opposition.

Prime Minister Lapid replied in the negative.

"Why?" asked Michael.

"He is not exactly constructive," Lapid replied.

More in Walla!

The cabinet authorized Lapid, Gantz and Bennett to make decisions in the escalation scenario in the north

To the full article

"I was never optimistic about Netanyahu, unlike most of you here."

Michaeli (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton told Michali that she is "really optimistic about Netanyahu."

The Minister of Transportation replied: "I was never optimistic about Netanyahu, unlike most of you here, but there is a national interest."

Minister of the Interior Ayelet Shaked, who also expressed support for the agreement, asked Legal Adviser to the Government Attorney Gali Beharev-Miara which forum should approve the agreement. The Legal Adviser to the Government said that the government is the body that should approve the agreement and the government should also decide whether to forward the agreement to the Knesset just for information or to ratify by vote.

According to three ministers who participated in the meeting, all the heads of the defense establishment expressed support for the agreement as presented by the US. Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said that all the IDF's security requirements were met in the agreement. Our freedom of action," Kochavi said.

Mossad head David Barnea said that Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah also wants the agreement because he understands that he is serving Lebanon and is not interested in a military campaign with Israel at the current time. The production of gas at the "Shark" rig Nasrallah may require a reaction since he has already made a public commitment to this.

• news

• Political-political

Tags

• Lebanon

• Yair Lapid

• The political-security cabinet