Report: US presses Israel to give Mechanism a chance

The U.S. administration has pressed Israel to give a chance for developing the work of the U.S.-led ceasefire Mechanism after the appointment of Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives in it, U.S. and French diplomats said.

Washington has also asked Israel to respect the year-end deadline for the removal of Hezbollah’s weapons in the South Litani region, while acknowledging that the Israeli operations and strikes will not stop during this period, the diplomats told An-Nahar newspaper.

According to Israel's Ynet news portal, U.S. President Donald Trump had called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Monday and urged him to shift gradually from offensive operations and escalation threats in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria to diplomacy and confidence-building measures.

A senior security official said Netanyahu received similar counsel from top Israeli army commanders eager to begin rebuilding the military after extended combat.