Israel's government is concerned that new U.S.-Iran diplomatic agreements are legitimizing Iran's influence in Lebanon and restricting Israel's freedom to conduct military operations there. According to Axios, the core issue is a newly created "deconfliction cell" to manage the Lebanon ceasefire—but Israel is not a direct participant. Under the twenty twenty-four ceasefire agreement brokered by the Biden administration, Israel had broad rights to act against threats posed by Hezbollah. The new arrangement limits Israel's freedom to imminent threats only. Prime Minister Netanyahu, facing elections in October, has been working to lobby the Trump administration through a close aide, Ron Dermer, to protect Israel's operational interests in Lebanon. U.S. officials contend that Israel isn't actually sidelined because the U.S. is part of the mechanism and closely coordinated with Israel. However, Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Netanyahu ally, calls the arrangement "a major misstep." Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are scheduled to meet Tuesday at the State Department, mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to work toward an agreement on a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

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