U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen says that despite recent pressure from allies including Canada and the United States to secure a moratorium on fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, which has failed, Israel is willing to accept the right conditions. He said he believed he was interested in a ceasefire under the
In an interview with CTV Question Period host Vassie Kapelos, which aired Sunday, Cohen said that although attempts at a pause failed, he still believed a ceasefire was possible.
Two weeks ago, Canada, the United States, Australia and other allies in Europe and the Middle East issued a statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire, and U.S. national security officials told reporters that Israel had agreed to extend the suspension. Explained.
But the next day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said otherwise.
Later that week, Israel removed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and earlier this week Iran fired 181 ballistic missiles directly at Israel.
“I don’t think it’s possible for Israel to agree that it hasn’t agreed to a ceasefire. The terms that the president proposed when he announced the ceasefire do not mean that Israel is not interested in a ceasefire,” Cohen said. ” he said.
“I think Israel is interested in a ceasefire,” he added. “It has to be the right conditions.”
The war is currently being fought on two fronts in the Middle East: Gaza and Lebanon.
Beirut was the target of an attack this weekend in the city’s southern suburbs, which Israel considers a Hezbollah stronghold, according to media reports. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces are preparing for a “new phase” in the now year-long war with Hamas, and have reportedly ordered an evacuation of the northern part of the enclave.
“(U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Biden have been warning for years about the enormous risks in the Middle East. It’s a tinderbox,” Cohen said when asked about concerns about all-out war in the region. He answered: “So I think anyone who says there is no risk of conventional war is probably kidding.”
“So I’m concerned,” he added, “but at the same time I’m cautiously optimistic that that’s not the outcome.”
Cohen also said there are “important realities” to note, including that “Hamas and Hezbollah started this,” and that “Israel should have an absolute right to defend itself. I actually have it,” he said.
The ambassador downplayed any desire for conventional war between Israel and Iran, as the world focuses on how Israel will retaliate following an Iranian missile attack earlier this week.
Cohen argued that a conventional war is in no one’s interest and said he believed there were “some forces on both sides that could help prevent an escalation to a conventional ground war.”
“I think the U.S. message was spot on,” Cohen said. “We’re not interested in a war with Iran, and I don’t think Iran is interested in a war with the United States or, frankly, a conventional war.”
“This is why the response chosen in April and now in October was ballistic missiles rather than military forces,” he added.
In the interview, Cohen reiterated Biden’s position regarding the expected response from Israel and the extent to which that response might be supported and supported by the U.S. government. Biden said the United States would not support an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but indicated that talks were continuing regarding Iran’s oil facilities.
Once broadcast, you can watch Cohen’s full interview on CTV’s Question Period in the video player at the top of this article.
With files from CTV Question Period Senior Producer Brennan McDonald
