Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a new ceasefire under US auspices. However, one key player is missing: Hezbollah. Hours after the deal was announced in Washington, Israel continued its strikes, while Hezbollah said it rejects any ceasefire that does not begin with a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
The group’s leader, Naim Qassem, said Hezbollah would continue targeting northern Israel as long as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strike Lebanon.
The US State Department announced that pilot security zones will be created in southern Lebanon, from which Hezbollah will be excluded, with full control handed to the Lebanese army. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun described the proposal as a “last chance” for a comprehensive ceasefire.
Rift inside the Cabinet
Domestically, the ceasefire exposes divisions within Israel’s governing coalition. During a security meeting convened by Netanyahu, the IDF presented plans for a large‑scale ground operation in Lebanon.
Defence Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir backed the plan, arguing that only military pressure can force Hezbollah north of the Litani River. Netanyahu voiced reservations, as Washington is pushing strongly to avoid further escalation that could complicate parallel negotiations with Iran.
According to reports, Trump personally intervened to prevent Israeli strikes on Beirut, sending a clear message that US priorities in the region leave no room for uncontrolled escalation.
Ben Gvir responded publicly, posting on X that “the ceasefire is a serious mistake and the illusion of advisers leading the Prime Minister into bad decisions.” Netanyahu’s office did not comment on reports of internal disagreements.
הפסקת האש עם לבנון היא טעות חמורה וחלומות באספמיה של יועצים שגוררים את ראש הממשלה להחלטות לא נכונות.
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) June 4, 2026
חיזבאללה לא יצא מהאזור שמדרום לליטני, ולצבא לבנון אין שום דרך לכפות עליו את הפינוי.
מדינת לבנון היא שותפה של חיזבאללה. יש שרים בממשלה שלה מטעם חיזבאללה, ובצבא לבנון משרתים קרובי…
Electoral losses
A new Agam Labs poll for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shows significant electoral losses in northern Israel, where Hezbollah attacks have hit hardest.
Only 23% would choose Likud today, compared with 35% in the 2022 elections, while around 70% of residents disapprove of the government’s handling of the war.
In Kiryat Shmona, a town marked by empty streets and closed shops, a 45‑year‑old resident told Reuters: “I don’t believe a ceasefire with Hezbollah will protect my family.”
Analyst Nimrod Nir described a “dramatic shift,” with two‑thirds of voters in the area now leaning towards the anti‑Netanyahu camp. Former IDF chief and potential prime ministerial contender Gadi Eisenkot also criticised the government, saying: “Wherever Hezbollah operates, it must be struck, and the hands of the IDF must not be tied.”
The shadow of Trump
Many residents in the north express a clear view: Netanyahu is not acting alone. “I’m not ashamed to say I voted for this government, but in the end the one running it is President Trump,” the same resident said.
This perception highlights one of the prime minister’s deeper political challenges as he balances between a US president seeking de‑escalation and a far‑right faction pushing for continued war, while public opinion in frontline areas increasingly turns against him.
