### Netanyahu Rejects 21-Day Cease-Fire Proposal Ahead of U.N. Address

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations on Friday, following his outright rejection of a 21-day cease-fire proposal aimed at pausing the conflict in Lebanon. The proposal, crafted by the U.S. and France, was dismissed by Netanyahu, who instructed the Israeli military to continue operations against Hezbollah "with full force."

Netanyahu's office released a statement as he traveled to New York, indicating that he "did not even respond" to the cease-fire plan, which had just been endorsed by the U.S., the European Union, and six other countries. Admirably, the proposal was hailed as an "important breakthrough" by White House officials. Nonetheless, Israel's rebuff underscores a significant rift between the Biden administration and the Israeli government.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby struggled to reconcile the conflicting messages. "We wouldn't have worked on that statement the way we did... if it wasn't supported by the conversations that we were having with top Israeli officials yesterday," Kirby said.

However, U.S. officials privy to the ongoing negotiations have acknowledged that securing Israeli approval for the truce was always challenging. Israel perceives a temporary cease-fire as potentially advantageous for Hezbollah, allowing the group to recover and retaliate. Additionally, the Israeli government contends that a truce would hinder efforts to enable displaced residents near its northern border to return home promptly.

Israel's U.N. representative, Danny Danon, expressed a preference for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Hezbollah, but he emphasized that Israel would resort to all available means if diplomacy fails. "We are very honest about it," Danon stated, asserting that mediators are well aware of Israel's position.

The divergence over the cease-fire is likely to add tension to Netanyahu's anticipated speech at the U.N. The backdrop to the recent escalation includes Hamas' attacks on Israel on October 7, followed by Hezbollah's rocket fire from Lebanon, which has intensified hostilities along the border. These events have set the stage for a complex and potentially contentious dialogue at the U.N. gathering.