Israeli media reported on Monday that the security meeting headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Lebanon last night ended and the position was positive, while the Axios website quoted an American official as saying that "a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon is approaching and there is still some work to be done."

Channel 13 quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that the security meeting ended without taking final decisions due to the inability to reach solutions to critical issues that hinder reaching a final agreement, as he put it. However, he added that the direction of the settlement talks is positive.

Israeli media said that these security consultations are very important, and Israeli estimates still suggest that understandings can be reached during this week.

Axios quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that the trend in Israel is to move forward towards signing a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted an Israeli source as saying that Tel Aviv had received guarantees from Washington of freedom of action in Lebanon in the event of a violation of the agreement, while Channel 14 said that Netanyahu prefers to go to a settlement with Lebanon with an American commitment to allow Israel to respond to any violations.

The channel indicated that Netanyahu fears unilateral American steps regarding any settlement at the end of US President Joe Biden's term.

Dan Shapiro, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern Affairs, is expected to arrive in Israel today for talks on the security aspect of the agreement.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted an informed source as saying that Washington is waiting for answers and updates from the parties and for small issues that need to be settled. He denied what Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported about Israel giving the green light to reach a settlement with Lebanon.

The newspaper quoted Israeli officials as saying that the differences over the ceasefire proposal in Lebanon are not fundamental, and an agreement can be reached within a few days.

The newspaper pointed out that Israeli, American and Lebanese sources confirmed on Sunday that Tel Aviv had given initial approval to a proposed agreement with Lebanon, subject to final approval by the Israeli cabinet. It said that US envoy Amos Hochstein had informed Lebanese officials of these developments.

In this context, Channel 14 Israel quoted an Israeli official, described as prominent but not named, as saying that Israel is on its way to stopping the war in Lebanon, and this is expected to happen within the next few days.

The official pointed out that the agreement will be signed in front of the Americans, and will be temporary before moving to a permanent agreement with Lebanon.

He pointed out that the Israeli army forces will be directed towards the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, adding that the cessation of fighting in northern Israel means the economy will return to normal and the airspace will be opened to flights.

Threat to withdraw

These developments come amid Israeli sources confirming that the US envoy threatened to withdraw from mediation with Lebanon if there is no agreement within days.

Hochstein explained to Israeli officials that the understandings with Lebanon were ready, which put the ball in Israel's court.

US officials reportedly suspect that the Israeli delay may be linked to political calculations, and have warned that the issue could reach the UN Security Council, where the Biden administration may refrain from vetoing a ceasefire resolution, as happened in the final days of President Barack Obama’s administration.

For its part, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted a political source as saying that a warning was issued to Lebanon that if an agreement is not reached, Lebanese targets will be attacked.

The agency quoted the same source as saying that so far, Israel has not attacked Lebanese targets and has been careful to distinguish between targets belonging to Hezbollah and targets belonging to the Lebanese state.

The agency also quoted senior army officials as saying that they no longer operate according to the equation of launching attacks in response to gunfire from Lebanon, but rather attack according to regular plans, as they put it.

In a related context, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that one of the terms of the understanding between Israel and the United States includes Israel's freedom of action on the Syrian-Lebanese border in the event of violations after reaching an agreement.

Lebanese position

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Sunday that Israel's targeting of the Lebanese army in the south represents a bloody message rejecting ceasefire efforts.

Mikati added that the move confirms the rejection of strengthening the army's presence in southern Lebanon and implementing Resolution 1701, and stressed the need to pressure to stop the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and reach a ceasefire.

For his part, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said yesterday, Sunday, that Israel has not yet issued a final response to the US proposal for a ceasefire.

After meeting with Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Borrell warned that "Lebanon is on the brink of collapse, and pressure must be applied to the Israeli government and Hezbollah must be continued to accept the US proposal and fully implement Resolution 1701."

Borrell warned that Lebanon was "on the brink of collapse" after two months of open confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel, stressing that "pressure must be increased on the Israeli government and pressure must be continued on Hezbollah to accept the American proposal for a ceasefire."

The US envoy discussed the 13-point proposal, which calls for a 60-day truce and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south of the country, during his shuttle tour earlier this week between Lebanon and Israel.

But no results were announced after his tour, and the pace of Israeli strikes accelerated, especially against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.

Diplomatic efforts are focused on a ceasefire based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 and led to ending the war between Hezbollah and Israel by imposing a ceasefire.

The resolution prohibited the presence of any forces or weapons other than those of the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the area between the Litani River and the borders of Israel and Lebanon.

The decision implicitly means Hezbollah's withdrawal from the border area, but also the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers who have been waging a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since September 30.