PNN – The Axios news website, quoting American and Israeli officials, reported that a few days ago, Tel Aviv presented Washington with the terms of reaching a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon and return refugees to the border areas.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, Israeli officials said that the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office informed the White House of these conditions before Amos Hochstein, Biden’s envoy, went to Beirut today.
According to an Israeli official, one of Tel Aviv’s demands is that the regime’s military is allowed to participate in “active enforcement” (Resolution 1701) to ensure that Hezbollah does not rearm and rebuild its military infrastructure in areas close to the borders of occupied territories.
The official added that Israel also wants its air force to have freedom of action in Lebanese airspace.
According to Axios, these two demands are in conflict with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which considers the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL as agents of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
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An American official said that Lebanon and the international community are unlikely to agree to these terms, which significantly weaken Lebanese sovereignty.
Hochstein is expected to meet with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and other Lebanese officials and discuss Israel’s demands.
Nabih Berri told al-Arabiya yesterday that Hochstein’s trip is “the last chance before the US elections to reach a solution” to the war in Lebanon.
Pointing out that there is a consensus in Lebanon regarding UN Security Council Resolution 1701, he clarified regarding Israel’s request that he will not amend the said resolution in any way.
American and Israeli officials told Axios that Hochstein was looking for a large-scale deployment of the Lebanese armed forces in the south of the country in order to reach a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon and wants to deploy at least 8,000 Lebanese soldiers.
Representative Biden also wants to enhance UNIFIL’s mission to assist the Lebanese military in preventing individuals or armed groups outside Beirut’s control from establishing themselves near the border with Israel.