The Biden administration and Israeli government share the goal of returning people to their homes in the north, but they disagree on the method. White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, expressed this sentiment at the Israeli-American Council’s summit. While supporting Israel’s defense against Hezbollah, he emphasized a diplomatic solution over military action in Lebanon.
McGurk addressed concerns about reaching a ceasefire before Biden’s presidency ends, stating that a deal is possible despite doubts. He refrained from commenting on new proposals but highlighted ongoing negotiations with Israel and Hamas. Israel’s flexibility was praised, with obstacles remaining, such as the prisoner-hostage ratio and key figures like Yahya Sinwar.
Despite challenges, progress has been made, with detailed discussions on hostages and prisoners similar to previous agreements. McGurk remained optimistic about a potential deal while acknowledging the complexity of the negotiations. Overall, the focus is on continued engagement to achieve a lasting resolution in the region.