Urgent Measures Needed to Make It Permanent.
The ceasefire between Israeli troops and the Hezbollah militia is good news in an area deep in armed conflicts. After a year-long period of hostilities, we must strive so that the ceasefire holds, becomes permanent, and that the U.N. forces are able to carry out their mandate.
The ceasefire between Israeli forces and those of Hezbollah started at 4 AM on 27 November 2024, a conflict that has killed thousands of people, displaced more than one million in Lebanon and some 60,000 in Israel. As the ceasefire started, some Lebanese were already starting to return to their homes at daylight.
The "Cessation of Hostilities" text which sets out the terms of the ceasefire calls for the ability of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line (the defacto border between Lebanon and Israel) to return safely to their lands and homes.
The ceasefire was negotiated by diplomats from the USA and France. Amos Hochstein was the lead U.S. negotiator. The U.S. and France will continue to have diplomats to follow the ceasefire process and to deal with any violations or unsolved tensions. The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), some 10,000 soldiers, will again be able to control the Blue Line frontier.
The ceasefire was able to be developed as there was a convergence of interests among leaders in Israel, Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran which is a strong supporter of Hezbollah. Many in Israel including the active military are exausted by the armed conflicts and must continue operations in the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Lebanon faces economic and political difficulties provoking a growth of sectarian tensions. Hezbollah's military and leadership has been seriously weakened by Israeli actions. However, the movement continues, and new leaders are coming to the fore. With a new Iranian President and a new U.S. administration, Iran's leaders may want to see what policies President Trump will develop toward Iran.
Turning the 60-day ceasefire into a permanent peace accord will not be an easy task. There are territorial disputes along the Blue Line which have not been solved in the past. All the parties lack peace-oriented leaders. As noted, the ceasefire is in the current interest of all the leaders, but such situations can change due to internal political factors. Thus, there is an opportunity for non-governmental organizations to continue promoting a permanent ceasefire and to advance stability for the region.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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