West urges Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire amid China-Iran tango
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US-France calls for 21-day ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
By Raisina Correspondent
New Delhi, September 26: After over 600 deaths in Lebanon, the US and France have called for a 21-day Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Israel is seen rushing for a ground offensives in South Lebanon.
Amid the spectre of a limited regional war, two top Chinese officials have met senior leadership of Iran. The Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, who is also Director of the foreign affairs department in the Communist Party, met Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Middle East observers warn that a ground offensive by Iran in South Lebanon will drag Iran into a war with Tel Aviv. Israel is nonchalant about rising concerns.
Also Read: World counsels Israel on war against Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is raising rhetoric against Hezbollah. Israel is seeking a permanent solution against “Hezbollah attacks in the border areas which caused displacement of about 80,000 Israelis”.
On Wednesday, the US and France gave joint call for 21-day ceasefire. The scope of ceasefire will be the Israel-Lebanon border. This is a follow up to a video message of the French President, Emannuel Macron, in which he stressed that “space for diplomacy exists”.
“The ceasefire call has the support of Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar,” Elizabath Hagedorn reported for Al Monitor from New York.
The ceasefire call came close on the heels of the Chinses foreign minister meeting Pezeshkian of Iran. During the meeting, China pledged support for “sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity of Iran”.
Also Read: Israel carpet bombs Lebanon in war escalation with Hezbollah
The South China Post reported that Chinese Middle East envoy Zhai Jun has called on Iranian senior official Ali Asghar Khaji. Zhai also met Mehdi Shushtari, who is Iran’s assistant foreign minister for West Asia and North Africa, added the daily.
Pezeshkian has been quoted by media report saying on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that “Israel has no respect for the international rules”. Iranian officials of late have also stated that Tehran is exercising “extreme restraint”.
Since the pagers’ blast, Israel has carried out aerial strikes in Southern and eastern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry claimed that over 600 people have died in Israeli attacks.
The Middle East observers have said that the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war had left 1200 dead in a 30-day skirmishes. The death toll in three days alone is half the casualty of the 2006 war, they stress.
Also Read: Iran-Israel tension takes pause amid signs of US-led diplomatic response
The western world sounded empathetic to concerns of Israel in their joint statement issued for a temporary ceasefire. “A diplomatic settlement is necessary for civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety,” read the joint statement.
Netanyahu has said that the main objective of military actions in Lebanon is to ensure that displaced Israelis return to their homes in the border areas with Lebanon.
The Middle East observers have spotlighted Israel executing Gaza action plan in Lebanon. After the October 6 attacks of the Hamas last year, Israel had first bombed parts of Gaza followed by ground attacks.
The escalation has renewed fears that Israel will mount a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, potentially unleashing a far more deadly confrontation that could draw its ally, the United States, into direct conflict with Hezbollah’s patron, Iran.
Hagedorn wrote in her report that “senior White House adviser Amos Hochstein shuttled between Israel and Lebanon for a year in search of a diplomatic solution to restore calm on the border”.
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