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Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned Sunday that Iran-backed proxies are actively undermining prospects for peace as U.S. and Iranian officials reportedly prepare to discuss Israel-Hezbollah tensions during high-stakes talks in Switzerland.
“They keep on violating [the ceasefire] through their terror proxy called Hezbollah, which is a terror organization armed to its neck by Iran, and that’s the issue,” Herzog told “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH BORDER TENSIONS RISE AS TERROR GROUP REARMS, RESISTS US- BACKED CEASEFIRE
The Israeli president argued that Hezbollah’s continued attacks are the primary obstacle to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
“I tell the whole world, how the hell do you want to get to peace between Israel and Lebanon when you have Hezbollah hijacking Lebanon? Somebody needs to do the work. Unfortunately, it’s our soldiers. I don’t see anybody else doing it, unless there will be a diplomatic outcome.”
HORMUZ CHOKE POINT PERSISTS AS IRAN HALTS OIL TRAFFIC DESPITE TRUMP CEASEFIRE
Herzog’s remarks come after Iran announced plans to re-close the Strait of Hormuz, with the country’s Consulate-General in India writing that the closure will partially come “in response to the continuous violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.”
Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the U.S. delegation during peace talks in Switzerland, told reporters before leaving Washington on Saturday that he hopes to “make progress” on the issue.
Herzog said any diplomatic solution must include the disarmament of Hezbollah, calling the demand “the whole crux of the strategic and tactical debate that’s going on around Lebanon these days.”
“I want to make clear, it is clear that we have an intimate and good dialog with the United States of America. We respect President Trump’s efforts, and we are raising legitimate concerns, which need to be discussed properly,” he said.
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