German efforts to mediate between Lebanon and Israel appear to be facing significant challenges, according to journalist and political writer Sami Kleib via his account on the “X” platform. He expressed concern that these negative indicators could complicate the diplomatic efforts Berlin is making to de-escalate the tense situation on the border.
Kleib mentioned that the Israeli Foreign Minister conveyed a strongly worded message to his German counterpart, who was coming from Beirut, stating that “Hezbollah’s rearmament will have serious repercussions on Israel’s security and the future of Lebanon,” adding that “Terrorism has taken root in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, and eradicating it is necessary for the region’s stability.”
Kleib also reported a notable escalation in the Israeli tone from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who said that “Hezbollah is playing with fire” and that “the Lebanese authorities are procrastinating,” demanding that the Lebanese government “fulfill its obligations in disarming the party and removing it from the south.”
According to Kleib, Gallant added that Israel will not allow any threat to the residents of the north, and that its forces will continue to “implement the maximum number of measures in Lebanon.”
It appears from Kleib’s post that the German mediation is facing a dead end early on, even though it aimed to find an indirect communication channel between Beirut and Tel Aviv to reduce the intensity of the field tension.
But the recent Israeli tone, as Kleib points out, puts Berlin in a difficult position: on the one hand, there is a gradual military escalation on the ground, and on the other hand, a political discourse that links any solution to the demand to disarm Hezbollah, a condition that Beirut considers unattainable and beyond any current negotiations.
It is worth noting that the new German mediation came after a series of contacts made by the German Foreign Minister with Lebanese officials, seeking to reactivate the discussion on the implementation of Resolution 1701 and stop mutual violations. However, the recent Israeli statements threaten to lose opportunities to de-escalate, especially with Tel Aviv hinting at expanding its military operations into the Lebanese interior.
