Wednesday Briefing: Israel and Hezbollah agree to a truce

Plus, what both sides hope to gain

View in browser|nytimes.com November 27, 2024 Good morning. We're covering a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and the effects of Donald Trump's trade threats. Plus: The top 100 most notable books of 2024. The site of an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Tuesday. Wael Hamzeh/EPA, via Shutterstock Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a cease-fire The Israeli cabinet yesterday approved a cease-fire proposal that would stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. The fighting has displaced over a million Lebanese and tens of thousands of Israelis, killed more than 3,000 Lebanese and 100 Israelis and upended the regional balance of power. See maps that show how the deal will work. During a televised address, President Biden said the cease-fire would go into effect at 4 a.m. this morning in Israel and Lebanon. He said the deal had been "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities." Hezbollah did not comment on the announcement. In a public address, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said a truce was necessary to allow Israel to focus on Iran, to isolate Hamas and to replenish weapons stockpiles. Read analysis of what the deal could mean for the region. On the ground: In the hours before Israeli ministers approved the deal, the Israeli military launched one of its heaviest barrages of airstrikes since the war began, hitting the heart of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and Hezbollah-dominated neighborhoods south of the city. Details: Under the agreement, Israel would gradually withdraw its remaining forces from Lebanon over the next 60 days, while Hezbollah would not be allowed to entrench itself near the Israeli border, according to Biden. For more, we spoke to Patrick Kingsley, our Jerusalem bureau chief. What do both sides want out of this cease-fire? Patrick: Israel mainly wants Hezbollah to withdraw from the borderlands of southern Lebanon, thereby removing a threat to Israeli communities on the other side of the border. Israel also wants the right to redeploy inside Lebanon, if Hezbollah doesn't actually withdraw. Publicly, Hezbollah has suggested that it mainly wants Israel to stop firing and to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Privately, Hezbollah likely wants its forces to remain as close as possible to the border, without provoking another Israeli invasion or air campaign. The possible patterns of withdrawal for Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The New York Times How could these negotiations affect the ongoing war in Gaza? Patrick: They might not have a great effect. Some hope that Hamas's remaining leaders in Gaza, deflated by the decision of their Lebanese ally, might agree to leave Gaza, allowing for the end of the war. But most experts find that idea fanciful. Instead, Hamas is expected to dig in, while the Israeli government is likely to continue to push for Hamas's complete destruction, even as Israeli generals warn that such a goal is near impossible. Donald Trump said that his plans to impose stiff new tariffs were intended to halt the flow of drugs and migrants into the U.S. Eric Lee/The New York Times Trump's tariff threat reverberated around the globe Donald Trump's vow to impose heavy tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China led to promises of retaliation and raised the prospect of trade fights that could surpass those of his first term. Beijing could respond by starting a currency war, which would carry formidable risks for both sides. Trump cited the movement of people and drugs into the U.S. when promising to impose tariffs of as much as 25 percent on goods from all three countries. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico signaled that her country was prepared to respond with tariffs of its own, and she noted that illegal border crossings into the U.S. have plunged since last year. Indirect effects: The U.S. auto industry depends heavily on manufacturing and parts from both Mexico and Canada, and any tariffs would quickly affect consumers. Taking shelter inside a metro station during a Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, yesterday. Alina Smutko/Reuters Russia said Ukraine attacked it with U.S. missiles Russia said that Ukraine had again struck its territory with U.S.-supplied missiles. The strikes, on Saturday and Monday, involved more than a dozen weapons known as Army Tactical Missile Systems, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The attack damaged military infrastructure and wounded some soldiers, and Moscow said it was preparing "retaliatory actions." In Ukraine, the air force reported yesterday that Russia had unleashed an overnight attack involving nearly 200 drones. The attacks were the latest in a series of intensifying air assaults between the two countries in recent days. In Rome: During a two-day meeting, top diplomats from the U.S. and allied nations discussed the war in Ukraine, multiple Middle East conflicts, the civil war in Sudan and other hostilities, instability and tensions around the world. MORE TOP NEWS Aamir Qureshi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Pakistan: The army was deployed in the capital, Islamabad, with orders to shoot if necessary, as the police clashed with supporters of Imran Khan, a former prime minister. Egypt: Four bodies were recovered and seven people are still missing after a boat carrying tourists sank on Monday in the Red Sea, officials said. Climate: A handful of oil-producing nations ensured that a U.N. General Assembly resolution did not call for a transition away from fossil fuels. China: The police have been crossing provincial borders to raid companies and drain their treasuries in a practice officially called "profit-driven law enforcement." Tech: Huawei is taking aim at Apple's smartphone dominance in China with the release of the Mate 70. Space: Japan's satellite ambitions took a hit after the country needed to halt an engine test for one of its flagship rockets after a fire broke out. Terrorism: An animal-rights activist suspected in bombings at two locations in Northern California was caught in Wales on Monday, the F.B.I. said. Ireland: As voters prepare to cast their ballots tomorrow, a misstep by the prime minister could cost him his job. Infertility: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to investigate whether the U.S. is experiencing a crisis of fertility. Here's what we know. Obesity: A new drug delivered in a monthly injection helped patients lose 20 percent of their weight, trial results in the U.S. showed. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: The English Football Association has pledged to increase the diversity of its men's coaching staff by 2028. Tennis: How players and coaches choose one another. Formula 1: The celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay turned the Las Vegas paddock into a high-end dining experience. MORNING READ Charlotte de la Fuente for The New York Times Can you tax burps and farts? A new climate levy in Denmark aims to rein in the planet-warming methane produced by cows and pigs. Lives lived: Breyten Breytenbach, a dissident South African-born poet who was jailed in his fight against apartheid, died at 85. CONVERSATION STARTERS On the rocks: High-intensity drinking has long been associated with youth, but trends are changing. What she really thinks: In "Freedom," Angela Merkel reflects on her political rise and defends her record as German chancellor. Colombia versus Venezuela: Who makes the best arepa? (Very) short stories: Short-form TikTok series like "Bistro Huddy" and Paloma Diamond bring old-fashioned serials to the world of social media. ARTS AND IDEAS Ricardo Tomás 100 notable books of 2024 The staff of The New York Times Book Review put together a list of standout fiction and nonfiction of the year, across science fiction, historical fiction, essays and more. Our interactive list lets you check off the books that you've already read, or that you want to. By the time you reach the end, you'll have your own personal reading list that you can share with your friends. Check out the selection. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: This apple-blackberry crisp is low effort and high reward. Read: Emily Mester's "American Bulk" looks at our obsession with buying and rating objects. Run: With enough patience, your Strava workouts can be art. Here's some inspiration. Watch: "Get Millie Black" is a new spin on the cop drama. Treat: A writer saved her clothes with the help of some tiny parasitic wasps. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. Thanks for starting your day with The Times. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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