![Israel must continue to be able to deter Hezbollah, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stressed on Wednesday, speaking amid efforts to reach a ceasefire with Iran's Lebanese terrorist proxy. "We need to keep the freedom to act if there will be violations. And we will have to act in time, before the problem will grow," the minister told a gathering of nearly 100 foreign ambassadors in Jerusalem, the Times of Israel reported. A deal to end more than a year of fighting on the northern border must be durable, Sa'ar said, saying Jerusalem “would like to reach an agreement that will stand the test of time." He added that a ceasefire would be an "opportunity" for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty after the Israeli military severely degraded the Iranian-backed group in recent months. He called for the Lebanese Armed Forces to be strengthened and urged the international community to invest more in the economically devastated country, which is drowning in debt following years of mismanagement and corruption. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also emphasized on Wednesday the necessity for Jerusalem to be able to act against any Hezbollah threats that may arise after a ceasefire deal is implemented. “The condition for any political settlement in Lebanon is the preservation of the intelligence capability and the preservation of the [IDF’s] right to act and protect the citizens of Israel from Hezbollah,” Katz said. Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein remained in Beirut for a second day on Wednesday to discuss "technical details" of an American ceasefire proposal with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who heads the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement. President Joe Biden's point man in the Land of the Cedars announced he would travel to Israel on Wednesday night, speaking after he made "additional progress" in a second meeting with Berri. Hochstein was scheduled to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer shortly after his arrival, followed by a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day. “The meeting today built on the meeting yesterday, and made additional progress,” Hochstein said. “So I will travel from here in a couple hours to Israel to try to bring this to a close if we can.” The Biden envoy added that he will work with the incoming Trump administration on ceasefire efforts, saying that he has kept the president-elect's transition team informed of progress. Hochstein described as "very productive" his meetings with Lebanese officials on Tuesday. “We have a real opportunity to end the conflict, and now is the moment to decide. We are committed to doing everything we can to work with Lebanon and Israel to end this conflict,” Hochstein said at a press conference on Tuesday. Hochstein also met on Tuesday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and he was scheduled to meet with Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Joseph Aoun. Mikati emphasized that Lebanon’s primary objectives are achieving a ceasefire and safeguarding its sovereignty. He highlighted the need to implement international resolutions and bolster the Lebanese Armed Forces in the southern part of the country. Lebanon delivered its written response to the latest U.S. proposal on Monday. According to Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Berri, the response included “comments” that were “presented in a positive atmosphere.” He did not provide details on the nature of the comments, saying only that they “affirm the precise adherence to [U.N. Security Council] Resolution 1701 with all its provisions,” according to Reuters. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in a speech on Wednesday that the terrorist group had "read the ceasefire proposal. "We have our comments, and Nabih Berri has comments, and ours and the Lebanese government's comments are, Inshallah ['God willing'], identical," Qassem said. "We have decided not to discuss these ceasefire proposals or our comments in the media. All I will say is that Israeli is trying to obtain through negotiations what it couldn't through war." The terrorist leader vowed to “continue our efforts on the ground, whether the negotiations succeed or not. “We are confronting a savage enemy, and we will remain on the ground, no matter the cost, as we will also increase the cost for the enemy. We are facing Israeli human monsters supported by American human monsters,” threatened Qassem. Disarm and retreat Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, stipulated that Hezbollah must disarm and retreat north of the Litani River, but was never enforced. The Litani lies some 20 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border. Its enforcement, along with Israeli freedom of operation in Lebanon should Hezbollah violate the terms of a ceasefire agreement, are the key sticking points in the current negotiations. Netanyahu emphasized during a speech in the Knesset plenum on Monday that Israel will not allow Hezbollah to “return to the state it was in on Oct. 6, 2023. “We will be required, in order to ensure our security in the north, to systematically carry out operations—not only against Hezbollah’s attacks, which could come. Even if there is a ceasefire, nobody can guarantee it will hold. So it’s not only our reaction, a preventive reaction, a reaction in the wake of attack but also the capacity to prevent Hezbollah from strengthening,” he said. Hezbollah has launched some 16,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanon at Israel since joining the war in support of Hamas on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after the Gaza-based terrorist group’s massacre in southern Israel. More than 60,000 residents of northern Israel remain internally displaced due to the ongoing rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon. Seventy-six people in northern Israel have been killed by Hezbollah cross-border rocket, missile and drone attacks since the start of the war, including 31 soldiers and six foreign citizens, according to the latest data provided by the Prime Minister’s Office, updated on Sunday. In addition, 729 people have been wounded, including 497 civilians and 232 soldiers. Of these, 29 civilians and 37 soldiers were severely injured; 63 civilians and 38 soldiers were moderately injured and 405 civilians and 157 soldiers were lightly injured. Hezbollah’s leadership has been left in tatters following a series of targeted killings by Israel, including that of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on Sept. 27. This was preceded by Israeli sabotage of Hezbollah communication devices that killed 39 people and wounded more than 3,400 members of the terrorist group. Israel has been waging a devastating aerial campaign against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, including its stronghold of Dahieh south of Beirut. According to Israeli estimates, the terrorist group has lost most of its arsenal to the ongoing strikes. Then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in late October that Hezbollah had lost an estimated 80%-plus of its long-range rockets since the start of the war. Israel also continues to battle Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The terrorist group still holds 101 hostages in the Strip, 97 of whom were kidnapped on Oct. 7. Many of the captives are believed to be dead. Brazil summit Meanwhile, G20 leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for a summit put out a joint statement on Monday calling for “comprehensive” ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon. The leaders of the world’s biggest economies called for U.S. proposals to end fighting in Gaza and free the hostages, and one for Lebanon “that enables citizens to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.” The 13-point U.S. proposal presented to Lebanese officials on Nov. 14 includes a 60-day truce, during which Lebanon would redeploy its troops along the border. The proposal also calls for Moscow to prevent Hezbollah from resupplying itself via Syrian land routes. Hezbollah would retreat north of the Litani River, with the border area then being under control of the Lebanese Armed Forces, overseen by the United States and Britain. Israeli officials are emphasizing, however, that the Israel Defense Forces must retain freedom of operation in Lebanon to thwart attempts by Hezbollah to violate the agreement and rearm and reestablish itself. A senior Israeli diplomatic official told Israel Hayom on Saturday that the IDF will retain operational freedom to respond to any security threats from across the northern border, regardless of any diplomatic arrangements. However, a source close to Hezbollah told The Washington Post that the group’s “condition for progress remains clear: Israel must be prohibited from conducting operations within Lebanese territory.” Berri emphasized at the time that any ceasefire agreement must not include the ability for Israel to attack by land, sea or air, Channel 12 reported. “Otherwise, what’s the purpose of an agreement?” he remarked. Another sticking point is Lebanon’s objection to the United Kingdom and Germany monitoring the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701. Beirut reportedly favors the United States and France. If the ceasefire efforts fail, there are plans in the works to expand ground operations in Lebanon, an Israeli military official told the Post. Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed the proposal with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during a visit to his Florida estate earlier this month, as well as with senior Biden administration officials in Washington. Dermer also traveled to Russia to discuss the ceasefire proposal. Tehran is telling its Lebanese terrorist proxy Hezbollah that it supports ending the war against Israel, The New York Times reported over the weekend. Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, met with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut on Nov. 15 to discuss the matter. Two Iranians affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps told the Times that Larijani conveyed messages to Hezbollah from Khamenei that he supported the end of the war and that the regime would assist with rebuilding the terrorist group’s forces and recovering from the war.](https://jewishwebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Gideon-Saar-1320x880-2-218x150.jpg "Sa’ar: Israel must be free to act against Hezbollah truce violations")
President Isaac Herzog announced on Monday the award of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor to eight Jewish and non-Jewish leaders from around the world, in recognition of their long-standing contributions to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Against the background of the ongoing war, the president chose these leaders for their unwavering commitment to Israel and their exceptional support of the Jewish people over decades of endeavors, particularly since the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023.
The Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor is awarded by the president to those who through their talents, service or any other means, have made an outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity.
This medal was an initiative of Israel’s ninth president, the late Shimon Peres, and was first awarded in 2012.
Upon taking office, Herzog appointed an advisory committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Professor Yoram Danziger, to recommend candidates for the honor.
Since then, the president has awarded the medal to prominent figures in Israel and worldwide, including heads of state, key social figures from all sectors of Israeli society, and global and Jewish leaders.
This will be the first time the medals are collectively awarded to a group of Jewish and non-Jewish leaders from abroad, who have contributed to Israel and the Jewish people both personally and through institutions around the world—a category that will also be included in future years.
The recipients, as announced by the president, are:
• Ronald S. Lauder (USA)
• Maurice Lévy (France)
• Malcolm Hoenlein (USA)
• Julie Platt (USA)
• Sir Frank Lowy (Australia and Israel)
• Sir Trevor Chinn (U.K.)
• Brigitte Zypries (Germany)
• Mark Leibler (Australia)
The president personally informed each recipient of their selection.
In his conversations with the honorees, Herzog said:
“The past year, the most difficult since the founding of the state, tested our resilience as a nation and as the Jewish people; it showcased the diverse and beautiful face of Israeli society and proved, as we have always known and believed, that all of Israel is responsible for one another, that the Jewish communities worldwide and the State of Israel share a common destiny, and that we have great friends and supporters in the world who fight alongside us against antisemitism, defend Israel’s name in the media, and have long fought for Israel’s place among the nations.
“Your work and dedication embody this great bond, and the Jewish people and the State of Israel will remain deeply grateful for all that you have done and continue to do,” he said.
Details of the medal recipients:
• Ronald S. Lauder (USA) – President of the World Jewish Congress—among the most significant Jewish organizations in the world—prominent Jewish leader and philanthropist, and generous contributor to numerous causes in Israel and the Jewish world, Lauder has for decades made significant contributions to strengthening Jewish communities globally and combating antisemitism.
Through his support for educational initiatives especially, and the fight against antisemitic and anti-Israel campaigns, he has greatly impacted diplomacy, education and culture, influencing generations of Jewish youth worldwide.
• Maurice Lévy (France)—Born in Morocco, Lévy has fostered enduring business, social and political ties between France and Israel. He is known for his steadfast support for Israel and for combating antisemitism across Europe. Lévy ensured Israel’s representation in prestigious global platforms and other international forums. He has been honored as a Commandeur of the French Légion d’Honneur and Grand Officier of the Ordre National du Mérite.
• Malcolm Hoenlein (USA)—Hoenlein served for decades as the leading figure of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, representing more than 50 organizations across the U.S. He has been a key figure in strengthening U.S.-Israel relations, advocating for Israel’s security and Jewish unity, and garnering support for Israel among global leaders and in U.S. politics and government.
• Julie Platt (USA)—Platt currently serves as chair of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), leading the largest Jewish community outside of Israel. She has worked tirelessly to significantly strengthen the ties between the North American Jewish community and the State of Israel, with a strong focus on fostering Jewish identity among Jewish children and youth in the U.S.
She has long supported Israel and the Jewish community across the U.S. and the world, actively defending Israel’s name post-Oct. 7, in various forums, including as chair of the Board of Trustees at the University of Pennsylvania, advocating for the safety of Jewish students and for Israel’s right to self-defense.
• Sir Frank Lowy (Australia and Israel)—A Holocaust survivor who was born in Czechoslovakia and who fought in Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Lowy is a leading philanthropist who has greatly impacted the ties between Israel and Australia, supported the Jewish community in Australia and promoted the well-being of Israeli society in the fields of health, education and social welfare especially. His influence is also evident in supporting vital Israeli initiatives, most recently the National Library in Jerusalem.
• Sir Trevor Chinn (UK)—Chinn has for many decades been one of the most prominent leaders of British Jewry. He has served among other roles as chairman of the Joint Israel Appeal (now the UJIA) and founder of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). He has worked tirelessly to strengthen Israel-U.K. relations and support Jewish communities in both countries, ensuring their security and defending Israel’s name within the political, diplomatic and public spheres in the U.K.
• Brigitte Zypries (Germany)—Zypries, a former German minister of economic affairs and justice, has long been an important political figure and president of the Israel-Germany Association. She has greatly contributed to strengthening ties between Germany and Israel, and between Israel and Europe, mainly through legal, economic and cultural cooperation. She has worked to solidify Israel’s status in Europe and to defend its reputation in the face of antisemitism and anti-Israel boycotts.
• Mark Leibler (Australia)—Leibler is a leading attorney and Jewish community leader in Australia who has worked extensively for human rights, Israel and the Jewish community in Australia. For decades, he has been a central figure on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Hayesod, working to promote the Australia-Israel friendship, combat antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments, defend Israel’s reputation and fight against boycotts.