The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned again today Sunday Hezbollah against the opening of a second war front with Israel, stating that if this happens, it will result retaliation of “unimaginable” size, with Israeli raids that will cause “disaster” in Lebanon.

In an official transcript of Netanyahu’s briefing to Israeli special forces men near the border with Lebanon, he said: “I can’t tell you now whether Hezbollah will decide to enter the Gaza war fully.”

This war began after a devastating border attack by Hamas on October 7, while it’s a matter of “life or death” for Israel, Netanyahu added.

The US draft to the UN on Israel

It is noted that the US yesterday proposed a draft resolution to the UN Security Council, in which it is stated that Israel has the right to self-defense and asks Iran to stop exporting weapons “to militias and terrorist organizations threatening peace and stability in the region.” .

The US draft makes no mention of a cessation of hostilities or a truce.

It calls on all countries to try to prevent “the violence from Gaza from spreading or being transferred to other parts of the region”, while calls on “Hezbollah and other armed organizations to immediately stop the attacks.”

At the same time, the US is calling it Iran stop arming organizations that threaten peace and security in the region, including Hamas.

The draft, obtained by Reuters, also calls for protection of civilians – including those seeking safe haven – points out that countries must comply with international law when responding to “terrorist attacks” and calls for “sustained, effective and unhindered” providing aid to the Gaza Strip.

At the same time, America strengthens its forces in the Middle East, sending additional air defense systems and the aircraft carrier Eisenhower, “to protect its positions and strengthen Israel’s defenses.

It is currently unclear if and when the US plans to put the draft to a vote. A Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes and no vetoes from the five permanent members – Russia, China, the US, Germany and Britain – to pass.

Veto on declaring a humanitarian ceasefire

The USA practiced on Wednesday veto in a draft decision submitted by Brazil which requested it declaring a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, as well as the entry of aid into Gaza. However

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield justified her country’s veto on Wednesday by pointing out that more time is needed for diplomatic efforts.

She commented that US disappointed that Brazil’s draft did not mention Israel’s right to self-defense. Washington emphasizes that Israel has this right based on Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Article 51 refers to the right of states to self-defense against armed attack and notes that countries should immediately inform the 15-member Security Council of any action they take to defend themselves against an armed attack.

In a letter sent by Israel on October 7, the day Hamas launched its attack, it informed the Council that it would “act in any way necessary to protect its citizens and sovereignty from the ongoing terrorist attacks emanating from the Strip of Gaza”. According to diplomats, Israel does not appear to formally invoke Article 51 in the letter.

The Arab countries also consider that Israel cannot justify its actions in the context of self-defense.

“The Gaza Strip is an occupied territory,” Jordan’s UN ambassador Mahmoud Daifala Hmoud told the Security Council on Monday, citing a 2004 International Court of Justice opinion on the fence Israel built around the West Bank.