• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Israel unhappy with late US-Iran ceasefire notification.
  2. Netanyahu clarified truce excludes Lebanon due to Hezbollah.
  3. Israeli envoy doubted Pakistan's credibility as mediator.

Amid Israel’s relentless bombing of Lebanon, a US media report claimed Jerusalem is dissatisfied with the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, as it was excluded from the negotiations and only informed at a late stage. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the conditions of the Pakistan-brokered Iran-US ceasefire came to the knowledge of Israeli officials only after US President Donald Trump announced on social media platforms. Although the analysts sound bizarre, it could be nearly impossible for the Trump administration not to seek Israeli consent in the crucial talks.

The United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire early Wednesday, just 90 minutes before a deadline set by President Donald Trump, who had dramatically warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if no deal was reached.

ALSO READ: Pakistan-Mediated Iran-US Ceasefire On Brink Of Collapse Amid Israel's Bombing On Lebanon; What Really Went Wrong?

As part of the agreement, Iran committed to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that could help restore global energy supplies.

Support in public but actions shows otherwise

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly expressed support for the US decision to pause strikes soon after Trump and Iran announced on social media platforms, but firmly stated that the truce does not extend to Lebanon.

ALSO READ: 'No Coverage For Hezbollah Fighters': Netanyahu As Israel Backs US-Iran Ceasefire With A Condition On Lebanon

“Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region,” Netanyahu posted on X. In a separate statement, he added: “The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel and Israel’s regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli officials were unhappy that they were not consulted during the talks and only learned the deal had been finalised late in the process. Mediators noted that Israel particularly objected to any suggestion that the ceasefire would cover Lebanon, which it views as a separate conflict arena involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

Despite the public backing, the episode highlights tensions between the longstanding US-Israel alliance and the rapid pace of direct US-Iran negotiations, mediated in part by Pakistan.

US has its own reasons for chosing Pakistan: Israeli envoy

On Pakistan's role as a mediator, Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, cast doubt on the seriousness of the country, given the history of its terrorism. The envoy said he does not see Pakistan as a “credible player” and noted the Trump administration has decided to use Islamabad “for their own reasons”. “We don't see Pakistan as a credible player. I think that the United States has decided to use the services of the facilitation of Pakistan for their own reasons,"said Azar.

"We have seen in the past how the United States has managed to take problematic states like Qatar and Turkey and use them for the benefit of achieving an agreement with Hamas... For us, it is very important to stay in sync with the United States when it comes to the substance and the essence of the outcome we want to see,” he added.

(With inputs from agency)


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