Land swaps unlikely to resolve Israel-Hezbollah tensions, experts warn

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The Biden administration is reportedly considering a "land swaps" proposal between Israel and Hezbollah, aimed at preventing a wider conflict between the two. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein recently visited Israel to discuss the issue, as Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel, while Israel has responded with targeted strikes against Hezbollah forces.

Previous attempts to resolve tensions through land agreements have not led to lasting peace. United Nations resolutions 1559 and 1701 call for the disarmament of Hezbollah, but these mandates have not been fully enforced by either the Lebanese armed forces or the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel could take military action if a diplomatic solution is not reached soon.

Hezbollah’s missile arsenal, reportedly over 150,000, remains a significant concern. The group has been accused of embedding weapons in civilian areas, complicating any potential military response. Critics of land swap proposals believe such measures may not deter future violence, referencing past agreements that have failed to prevent further escalations.