CrossFireArabia
Germany has condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s remarks calling for the destruction of Palestinian cities like Jenin and Nablus in the West Bank, comparing them to the devastation of Jabalia in northern Gaza. Smotrich’s exact words were, “Funduq, Nablus, and Jenin must look like Jabalia,” sparking fears of further killings, forced displacement, and the erasure of Palestinian existence.
CrossFireArabia
Lebanon doesn’t want to normalize with Israel, pure and simple. Despite increasing pressure from the US administration, the government in Beirut is against any normalization moves with Israel.
“No one in Lebanon wants normalization with Israel,” says Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. “It is rejected by all Lebanese people,” he added.
The comments of the newly-elected Lebanese Prime Minister, made Wednesday, to a delegation from the Lebanese Press Editors Association, are trending on the social media.
“International and Arab diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt its attacks has not been exhausted,” noting that “no one wants normalization with Israel in Lebanon, which is rejected by all Lebanese,” as carried by the naharnet website.
Salam said Lebanon would not establish ties with Israel even though the latter still controls five border posts in Lebanon and which have “have no military or security value, but Israel holds them to keep pressure on Lebanon.”
Local media reports have emerged about US pressure on Lebanon to reach “an agreement that is less than normalization and more than an armistice” with Israel according to Anadolu.
A ceasefire was reached by the two countries at the end of last November after a fully-fledged war that began in September following months of cross-border fire.
Israel has repeatedly violated the terms of the ceasefire since then with 1,250 violations, 100 deaths and 330 injuries as reported by the Lebanese authorities.
Israel was supposed to withdraw from Lebanon by 26 January, 2025, extended the deadline to 18 February and still refuses to comply maintaining a outposts at five border-points.
