The military is investigating the soldier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret for any hurt caused to “believers in Lebanon and around the world.”
The truce appeared to mostly hold even as Israel said it had carried out strikes on what it called “terrorists” approaching its forces in southern Lebanon. Separately, a U.N. peacekeeper was killed.
The pause in fighting would remove a major hindrance to the U.S.-Iran peace talks, if it holds. New talks are set for Thursday in Washington.
The country’s leadership secured a truce through risky talks with Israel, but the government now finds itself caught between competing pressures.
Most Israelis wanted the fight against Hezbollah to continue. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s critics say he is showing that he cannot, or will not, stand up to President Trump.
Most Israelis wanted the fight against Hezbollah to continue. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s critics say he is showing that he cannot, or will not, stand up to President Trump.
The pause in the fighting between Israeli forces and Iranian-allied Hezbollah militants may help smooth the way to a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
President Trump had said that Israeli and Lebanese leaders would speak directly, but a Lebanese official said the country’s president had rejected the idea.
Concerns over the Iran war led several Democratic senators who had rejected past bids to curb weapons transfers to Israel to vote to block the sale of bulldozers and bombs.
A court fight over Itamar Ben-Gvir, an extremist who oversees the police, pits the attorney general against Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government.