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Blinken falls short of calling for truce in meeting with Lebanon’s PM
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pledged to work with “real urgency” for a diplomatic resolution to end Israel’s offensive in Lebanon but said it was first critical to reach understandings on disarmament of Hezbollah.
Meeting Lebanon’s caretaker PM Najib Mikati in London, Blinken also pleaded for protection of civilians but stopped short of urging an immediate ceasefire by Israel, which relies on US diplomatic and military support.
“We have a sense of real urgency in getting to a diplomatic resolution and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, such that there can be real security along the border between Israel and Lebanon,” Blinken told reporters, saying he was “intensely engaged”.
Resolution 1701, approved in 2006 after an earlier war, calls for the disarmament of non-state groups in Lebanon – an allusion to the Hezbollah group, which effectively runs its own armed forces – and for a full Israeli withdrawal from the country.
Ceasefire is Lebanon’s priority, says PM Mikati
Lebanon’s caretaker PM Mikati says his government’s priority is reaching “a ceasefire and deterring the Israeli aggression”. In a meeting with Blinken, he said there are more than 1.4 million people who have been displaced from the areas that are being attacked by Israel.
“Israel is also violating international law by attacking civilians, journalists and medical staff,” said Mikati in his meeting with Blinken.
“First, what is required is a real commitment from Israel to a ceasefire, because the previous experience regarding the American-French call, supported by the Arabs and the international community, for a ceasefire affected everyone’s credibility.”
He was referring to a proposal for an initial 21-day truce hammered by the two countries but rejected by Israel.
