Benjamin Netanyahu presented the ceasefire agreement in the context of what he called Israel’s “unprecedented achievements” in the past year of the seven-armed war.
He said Israel had pushed Hezbollah back “decades” and that it was not the group it once was.
The focus has been on Israel’s ability to do what it believes should be done – in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere – despite international opposition.
And there were many reasons to stop fighting it – it would allow Israel to “focus on the threat of Iran”, Netanyahu said, stressing that his country would maintain full military independence to fight any new threat from Hezbollah.
The Israeli army said on Tuesday that it had fired 180 rounds into Lebanon in the past 24 hours. Here on the Israeli side of the border, there have been constant warnings of rocket fire and drone attacks from Lebanon.
Neither side wants this ceasefire to be seen as a surrender.
But surrender is exactly what Netanyahu is accused of by his political rivals – and some of his political allies.
Another poll yesterday suggested that more than 80% of Netanyahu’s support base opposes the deal, and many residents of northern Israel – many of whom have been evicted from their homes – are also angry.
Shelly, an English teacher in Shlomi, said the ceasefire was a “useless and hasty political decision”.
Rona Valency, who was evacuated from kibbutz Kfar Giladi on 8 October last year, told me that she wants to go home, and that the shooting needs to end, but the idea of Lebanese citizens returning to these areas gave her “a feeling of uneasiness and real fear.” “.
From Kfar Giladi there are clear views of the Lebanese village of Odaisseh just across the valley.
“What I can hope for is that Hezbollah will not enter these areas and build a new network,” said Rona. “Besides completely erasing these villages, and not having people there, there is no real thing that would make me feel safe. It’s just, you know, hopefully.”
Her husband, Onn, said the key to security is not in the terms of the cease-fire agreement, but in people “understanding[ing] and, where we live; understand[ing] other things that many of us forget”.
He said he does not trust the Lebanese army, or the American people, to restore security at the border.
“I hope only our army,” he said. “I think that if the military is not there, it will be very difficult to bring the citizens back.”
This war has brought many military successes to Israel – Hezbollah is weakened, its weapons and infrastructure are depleted, and its alliance with Hamas is broken.
But Israel’s armed forces are exhausted, its economy is faltering, and tens of thousands of its citizens are being displaced.
Still, many here are urging Benjamin Netanyahu to continue the war in Lebanon – asking why the prime minister who vowed to continue fighting in Gaza until “total victory” signs a ceasefire in the north?
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