US Special Envoy, Amos Hochstein has bemoaned the situation at the Israel-Lebanon Border, saying that linking Lebanon’s fate to other conflicts in the region is not in the interest of the people of Lebanon.
This came as Hochstein addressed a news conference in Beirut after having talks with Lebanese officials.
The U.S. special envoy arrived in Beirut on Monday to meet Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
He kicked off his talks by meeting Berri.
Over the weekend, Berri told a news agency that Hochstein’s visit was “the last chance before the US elections” to reach a truce.
Berri revealed that he has been authorized by Hezbollah to negotiate on its behalf since 2006 and confirmed that the group agrees with U.N. Resolution 1701. He further noted that there is rare consensus among the Lebanese on this resolution, adding, “We are committed to it.”
Berri also made it clear that he opposes any amendments to Resolution 1701; the agreement which ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, and shared that he is working on a plan to save Lebanon.
He dismissed claims that Iran is obstructing this effort, stressing that there is a U.S. desire to halt the conflict in Lebanon before the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Speaking at the news conference, the US special envoy added that a resolution to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is possible but the situation has escalated “out of control as we feared that it could.”
He said that the US government wants to ensure this is the last conflict in Lebanon for generations.
“The US wants to end this conflict as soon as possible, and that’s what we’re working on. We are working with the state of Lebanon and Israel to bring a formula to end this conflict once and for all. The commitment that we have is to resolve the conflict based on UN Resolution 1701.”
Amos Hochstein
The Envoy noted that the US administration is working with Lebanon and Israel to bring about a formula to end the conflict once and for all.
Committing To Resolution 1701 Not Enough
Hochstein said that a settlement is needed based on UN Resolution 1701 of 2006 but stressed the warring sides committing to the deal “is not enough” to solve the problem.
He said that the resolution was successful in ending the war in 2006, but “we must be honest that nobody did anything to implement it.”
He noted that the lack of implementation over those years contributed to the conflict “we are in today.” “That must change because both sides simply committing to 1701 is just not enough,” he added.
The resolution calls for southern Lebanon to be free of any soldiers or weapons other than those of the Lebanese state.
Last week, Israel reportedly submitted a document to the US outlining its terms for a diplomatic solution that would allow for the end of the war in Lebanon and the return of displaced citizens from both sides of the border to their homes.
According to the report, one of Israel’s conditions is to allow its armed forces to take action to actively prevent the rearming of Hezbollah and the restructuring of the organization’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon near the border. Israel also demands that its air force be allowed to operate freely in Lebanese airspace, an Israeli official added.
These two demands contradict UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force are responsible for enforcing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
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