Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on US President Donald Trump to confine ongoing negotiations with Lebanon to a two- to three-week period ending in mid-May.
The request was made during a phone conversation late Wednesday, according to Israel’s Channel 12 (N12).
The discussion followed Trump’s rejection of a proposal from Iran that sought to delay talks on its nuclear programme until after the war, instead prioritising issues linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli authorities have expressed concern that persistent attacks by Hezbollah on Israel Defense Forces personnel and northern communities are weakening prospects for a diplomatic resolution while also diminishing Israel’s deterrence.
Officials in Jerusalem have reportedly informed Washington that failure to achieve progress within the proposed timeframe could prompt Israel to seek approval for a return to its “original plan” involving broader military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
At the same time, Israel’s political leadership has directed the IDF to maintain restraint in Lebanon. Military actions north of the Litani River are being avoided, with any exceptions requiring special authorisation.
Trump has also advised Netanyahu to keep Israeli operations limited to “surgical” strikes and to prevent further escalation, according to an Axios report.
During a visit to troops in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, said forces were acting in line with government instructions. “We have achieved everything that the political echelon laid out for us in relation to campaigns in Iran and Lebanon, and even more,” he said.
Currently, Israeli forces are largely responding to attacks rather than initiating them in Lebanon, a stance some officials warn could allow Hezbollah to regroup and sustain its threat to troops.
Israeli officials have also urged the United States to pressure Lebanon to act against Hezbollah beyond the designated security buffer zone, referred to by Israel as a Forward Defense Line, which was recently established in southern Lebanon.
The policy of restraint is viewed within Israel as part of broader efforts to support US-led diplomacy with Iran. However, officials acknowledge the approach carries risks, including potential erosion of deterrence and mounting pressure on northern communities, as uncertainty persists over how long the restrictions will remain.
In areas south of the Litani River, exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have occurred almost daily in recent days, even as negotiations between Israel and Lebanon continue in New York.
