United States President Donald Trump has stated that he requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw his troops from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and also engaged in discussions with representatives from Hezbollah, who “agreed to ceasefire” against Israeli forces.
Subsequently, the office of Israel’s prime minister indicated that Netanyahu informed Trump that attacks on Beirut would continue if Hezbollah persists in targeting “our cities and citizens,” while Israeli forces will “act as intended in southern Lebanon.”
Al Jazeera reports that Trump’s announcement of a diplomatic advancement following discussions with Israel’s Netanyahu and Hezbollah aimed at averting an escalation of hostilities in Lebanon that could reach the capital, Beirut.
However, Israel asserts that its agreement with Trump is conditional, rendering the overall situation in Lebanon highly unstable amidst contradictory statements and regional tensions.
In the meantime, tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews have rallied throughout Israel, obstructing roads and train services to protest against compulsory military service in Israel, as reported by The Associated Press news agency.
The demonstration paralyzed highways, and public transport was disrupted by the large crowds in both Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
Some demonstrators displayed placards denouncing Israel, stating: “We would prefer to perish as Jews than to exist as Zionists” and “We refuse to serve an army for the benefit of the Zionist faith.”
Military service is mandatory for the majority of Jewish men and women in Israel. However, influential ultra-Orthodox parties have secured exemptions for their members to avoid service and instead engage in religious studies.
Nevertheless, these exemptions are now at risk. Confronted with significant shortages of soldiers while engaged in conflicts on several fronts, the Israeli military is seeking to prolong the duration of compulsory service.
Most Jewish men are obligated to serve nearly three years in the military, followed by several years of reserve duty. Jewish women are required to serve for two years.
