00:00Yeah, so later this afternoon, the Secretary will meet with Ron Dermer, Minister for Strategic
00:07Affairs for the Government of Israel, and Saki Hinegbi, the National Security Advisor.
00:12He will discuss our ongoing work to try to reach a ceasefire that will secure the release
00:17of all hostages with surge humanitarian assistance.
00:20They will discuss the situation in the north of Lebanon – or I'm sorry, in the north
00:23of Israel along the border with Lebanon.
00:25They will discuss our ongoing work, even absent trying to secure a ceasefire, to get humanitarian
00:31assistance into Gaza and work that needs to be done to accelerate and improve that process,
00:35among, of course, a host of other issues that we discuss every time we meet with people
00:40from the Government of Israel.
00:41Okay.
00:42Well, when it relates to the, quote-unquote, north of Lebanon –
00:47Israel.
00:48I believe I corrected it.
00:49Well, I know, the north of Israel, yes.
00:51But you want to talk about the north of –
00:52South of Lebanon.
00:53We can talk about the north of Lebanon if you want.
00:55Sure.
00:56You can probably tell me about your trips to it.
00:59I'm sure you've been –
01:00Let's talk about the north of Israel on the Lebanese border.
01:06What is the situation there, as you understand it?
01:09Is there some kind of operation that's going to be mounted anytime soon?
01:16And if there is, what do you think of it?
01:18So we have made quite clear that we do not want to see escalation of this conflict.
01:25Hezbollah has increased the number of cross-border attacks over the past few weeks.
01:29You've seen dramatic attacks targeting civilian communities.
01:32Matt, I hate to interrupt, there's a big cockroach on the wall over your head there,
01:37so maybe need a –
01:39Well, defer that to – it's not – no insecticide or roachicide in the briefing,
01:49Matt.
01:50I'll go get it as soon as you finish.
01:51Yeah.
01:52I'm sorry to be distracted, but that's a rather large one.
01:55Do I have to get rid of it now?
01:58No, no.
01:59Let me go ahead and finish.
02:00We've seen a dramatic increase in attacks across the border.
02:04I shouldn't have said anything because now the room is going to have a hard time focusing
02:08on the very important messages I have to deliver here.
02:14Back to where we were.
02:15Back to where we were.
02:18We've been extremely concerned about the situation in the north of Israel, as I said.
02:22We don't want to see the conflict escalate.
02:24We have seen a dramatic increase in strikes by Hezbollah across the border targeting Israeli
02:30villages, civilian infrastructure.
02:35And so we have been pursuing a diplomatic resolution to try to make clear that there
02:39should be no further escalation, and that's what we'll continue to pursue.
02:42Well, yeah, but I mean, have you told them, the Israelis or the Lebanese, that – have
02:50you – well, have you told them anything?
02:52So we've had intensive conversations with both governments about this.
02:57In our conversations with the Government of Israel, which I'll speak to, and I'm sure
03:00the Secretary will go over with the two representatives from the government who are here today, we
03:05have made clear that our preference is to see a diplomatic resolution.
03:08And they have said to us that they want to see a diplomatic resolution to this conflict,
03:15and that's what we're going to continue to try to pursue.
03:16Have the Israelis told you that they're about to launch some kind of a strike in –
03:22They have not.
03:23Solves that problem.
03:24Right.
03:25I mean, is that –
03:26I'm not going to – I'm not going to engage in – I'm not going to engage in
03:36any metaphors related to the Arabs, I think.
03:39I think we're – I think we're – you're going to –
03:40No, well, I mean, I – so have you told the Israelis that you're going to – that you
03:48will support them or help them if they decide to go in?
03:52We have made clear that we want to see a diplomatic resolution.
03:54I think we –
03:55Well, look, that's not what I'm asking.
03:56I think I will leave it at that.
03:57All right.
03:58Thank you.
