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Can Northern Israelis Return Home Safely after Ceasefire with Hizbullah?
(New York Sun) Benny Avni - With the Israeli Security Cabinet set to approve a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hizbullah on Tuesday, Galilee residents are wondering whether the IDF will be allowed to enforce its terms. A 60-day cessation of military activities was negotiated by President Biden's envoy, Amos Hochstein, after he received a green light from Beirut's parliament speaker, Nabih Beri, a Hizbullah ally. Hizbullah now "will try to return to the border, the IDF will try to prevent it," said Sarit Zehavi, founder of the northern Israel-based Alma think tank. One good part of the agreement, she says, is a reported tacit American commitment to allow the IDF to act forcefully if Hizbullah returns to the Lebanese-Israeli border or attempts to rearm. Now, America and France are guaranteeing implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 from the 2006 Hizbullah war on Israel. Additionally, Netanyahu was enticed by Washington's vow to end a slowdown in arms deliveries to Israel. Supporters of the ceasefire agreement are under no illusion that Hizbullah, Iran's most potent regional ally, will disappear for good. Hizbullah has been weakened significantly. Yet the threat to Israel from Lebanon "will not end until we deal with Iran," Zehavi said.