Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily on Wednesday quoted a senior Lebanese official as telling it that Lebanon may be facing its “last chance” to achieve peace with Israel, urging the Israelis to give the Lebanese government time and political space to weaken Hezbollah and warning that continued Israeli military action could derail the process.

“Israel must help us. Israel must give us oxygen,” Yedioth Ahronoth quoted the alleged official as telling it in an exclusive interview. “The Lebanese people today dream of peace with Israel,” the official claimed.