The U.S., France and several key allies issued a statement Wednesday calling for an immediate 21-day cease-fire along the Israel-Lebanon border, amid fears that the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could spiral into an all-out regional war.

<div class="image-embed__placeholder"><img src="https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/66f5195cd17939c192c7a485/APTOPIX-Lebanon-Israel/960x0.jpg?cropX1=0&amp;cropX2=1547&amp;cropY1=93&amp;cropY2=964" alt="APTOPIX Lebanon Israel" width="100%" height="auto"></div><figcaption><fbs-accordion class="expandable" current="-1"><p class="color-body light-text">Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in the southern village of Kfar Rouman, seen from Marjayoun, <span class="plus" data-ga-track="caption expand">... [+]</span><span class="expanded-caption"> south Lebanon.</span></p></fbs-accordion><small>Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All right reserved</small></figcaption>

 <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/25/joint-statement-by-the-united-states-australia-canada-european-union-france-germany-italy-japan-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-qatar/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/25/joint-statement-by-the-united-states-australia-canada-european-union-france-germany-italy-japan-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-qatar/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/25/joint-statement-by-the-united-states-australia-canada-european-union-france-germany-italy-japan-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-qatar/" aria-label="cease-fire">cease-fire</a> call was made after discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday it has been signed by the U.S., Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Qatar.</p>  </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The statement notes that the situation between Israel and Lebanon since last October is “intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation” and calls for a “diplomatic settlement” that allows civilians on both sides of the border to return home safely.</p>  </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>The statement also expresses hope that a pause in fighting would open a path towards a potential cease-fire in Gaza as well.</p>  </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>While the Israeli government has not officially commented on the proposal, the country’s finance minister and far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich rejected it <a href="https://x.com/bezalelsm/status/1839180045543264586" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://x.com/bezalelsm/status/1839180045543264586" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://x.com/bezalelsm/status/1839180045543264586" aria-label="saying">saying</a> the “enemy must not be given time to recover and reorganize in order to continue the war after 21 days.”</p> </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on the Israeli government to <a href="https://x.com/yairlapid/status/1839176689013698792" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://x.com/yairlapid/status/1839176689013698792" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://x.com/yairlapid/status/1839176689013698792" aria-label="accept">accept</a> the proposal but only for 7 days to prevent Hezbollah from reorganizing—but added that the country should not accept any proposal that “does not include removing Hezbollah from our northern border.”</p> </div> <div class="key-facts-element"> <p>Lebanese Prime Minister welcomed the cease-fire call, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-says-it-launched-rocket-targeting-mossad-base-near-tel-aviv-2024-09-25/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-says-it-launched-rocket-targeting-mossad-base-near-tel-aviv-2024-09-25/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-says-it-launched-rocket-targeting-mossad-base-near-tel-aviv-2024-09-25/" aria-label="telling Reuters">telling Reuters</a> that its success will ride on Israel’s commitment to enforce international resolutions.</p> </div>


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Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, also backed the cease-fire call, <a href="https://x.com/JeanineHennis/status/1839168419276390575" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://x.com/JeanineHennis/status/1839168419276390575" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://x.com/JeanineHennis/status/1839168419276390575" aria-label="saying">saying</a>: “Welcome and applaud the call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to allow the space for diplomacy to succeed. Counting on the unequivocal support of all to seize this opportunity.”

More than 600. The total death toll from Israel’s extensive airstrikes on southern Lebanon, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-idf-fully-prepared-maneuvers-death-toll-over-600/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-idf-fully-prepared-maneuvers-death-toll-over-600/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-idf-fully-prepared-maneuvers-death-toll-over-600/" aria-label="according to">according to</a> Lebanese authorities.

U.S. officials told the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hezbollah-war-ff2ec626f5d8883014f577b9a0cfaf1e" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hezbollah-war-ff2ec626f5d8883014f577b9a0cfaf1e" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hezbollah-war-ff2ec626f5d8883014f577b9a0cfaf1e" aria-label="Associated Press">Associated Press</a> that the cease-fire agreement will be signed between the Israeli and Lebanese government and the Iran-backed Hezbollah will not be a signatory. The officials said they believe the proposal will be welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Lebanese goverment will work Hezbollah to ensure their compliance.

The statement calling for a cease-fire warns that the ongoing conflict is “intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation”{ai:summary}<p>The U.S., France, and several allies called for a 21-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon to prevent regional escalation amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The statement emphasizes the need for a diplomatic solution and civilian safety.</p><p>Israeli officials have mixed reactions; some support a cease-fire, while others oppose it, fearing it could allow Hezbollah to regroup. Lebanese Prime Minister welcomed the proposal, contingent on Israeli adherence to international resolutions. #foreignaffairs</p>