The Israeli Ministerial Council to Decide Sunday on Returning Northern Evacuees, Effectively Making Them War Targets / Hochstein Prepares for a New Round of Mediation Between Beirut and Tel Aviv Under the Banner of De-escalation and Reducing Threats

September 14, 2024

Albinaa’ Newspaper Headlines

The political editor wrote

Moscow launched a diplomatic and media campaign led by Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning against NATO countries supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of reaching deep into Russian territory. Putin stated that allowing such attacks would constitute a grave act of war, placing these countries in direct conflict with Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed this sentiment, emphasising that such an escalation would not mark the end of tensions, as Moscow would respond with proportionate measures to safeguard its security.

Last night, Russia’s envoy to the United Nations added that if Western precision missiles targeted Russia’s heartland, it would indicate that NATO personnel were directly involved in operating the systems, as Ukraine lacks the technical capability to manage these advanced weapons. This would go beyond simply providing Ukraine with arms and intelligence, escalating NATO’s involvement to a new level.

In the region, attention turned to threats issued by Israeli leaders regarding the escalating confrontation with the resistance along the Lebanese border. The conflict has intensified daily, with frequent airstrikes by the Israeli military, often targeting civilians, and increasingly sophisticated and concentrated operations by the resistance. Yesterday saw a significant escalation in both the number and type of resistance operations and their targets.

Israel’s public broadcaster reported that the occupation government has scheduled a cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss the northern situation, including plans to return evacuated settlers to their homes as part of the war effort. This suggests that the army may be tasked with this mission, further heightening the threat of a broader war.

Amid this escalation, U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein is set to arrive in the region on Monday, beginning his visit in Tel Aviv and then heading to Beirut. His mission is to de-escalate tensions and seek diplomatic solutions that would prevent the outbreak of a full-scale war.

Hochstein’s visit aligns with joint U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which Washington believes could also help stabilise the situation in Lebanon and pave the way for the safe return of displaced settlers.