The 10-point peace plan offered by Iran and accepted tentatively by President Donald Trump is already in jeopardy after a major U.S. ally announced their refusal to abide by a key element of the agreement.
One of the 10 conditions in the peace plan is that Israel halt its strikes on Lebanon, but on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – despite expressing support for the peace plan – said that the ceasefire agreement “does not include Lebanon,” Al Jazeera reported Wednesday.
Israel launched its latest invasion of Lebanon last month after the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in response to Israeli strikes on Iran. In doing so, it’s created a “humanitarian crisis,” forcing 1.2 million people to flee their homes, including 350,000 children.
Trump has not commented on Israel’s objection to a key element of the ceasefire agreement. Joe Kent, who resigned last month as the head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center in protest of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, alleged that Trump was manipulated by Israel into launching the conflict. On Tuesday, he said it would be crucial to “restrain the Israelis” to “ensure the ceasefire is successful.”