Israel cabinet discusses Lebanon truce framework: Minister
Israel’s security cabinet is discussing the terms of a truce with Hezbollah in south Lebanon, where Israeli troops are conducting a ground offensive, Energy Minister Eli Cohen has said. “There are discussions, I think it will still take time,” Cohen told Israeli public radio.
Israel’s demands in return for a 60-day truce include a Hezbollah pullback to north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli frontier; the Lebanese army’s deployment along the border; an international intervention mechanism to enforce the truce, and a guarantee that Israel will maintain freedom of action in case of threats.
According to Israeli media, US President Joe Biden’s Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and special envoy Amos Hochstein will head to the region Wednesday to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to discuss conditions for a ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Their goal is to implement the deal prepared by Hochstein, which is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
According to the resolution, which brought an end to Israel’s last war with Hezbollah in 2006, only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL would be deployed in areas south of Lebanon’s Litani River near the Israeli border.
Ceasefire draft says Israel can continue to strike Hezbollah targets: Reports
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports Israel’s public broadcaster published the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire draft document, which the US presented to Israel.
It says it includes “a mandate which would allow Israel to conduct air strikes along the border between the two countries, in Lebanese territory, in order to thwart threats brought on by Hezbollah or other groups”.
Lebanon’s PM says US envoy told him a ceasefire possible before November 5
Najib Mikati, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, said he was cautiously optimistic about this potential ceasefire proposal, which we understand is on its way to Israel in the hands of the US envoy, Amos Hochstein.
I’ll give you some of the details. According to this proposal, there will be no arms or military infrastructure south of the Litani River except for the Lebanese army and international forces under a ceasefire agreement in line with UN Security Council 1701.
That’s the agreement that was made after the end of the last war in 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel.
Mikati went on to say any ceasefire would have to come with an American guarantee. He said Amos Hochstein told him it was possible to reach a ceasefire before November 5th. It shows you just how much effort the Americans are making before this election.
It’s really important to mention that, according to Lebanon’s speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, who has effectively been acting on behalf of Hezbollah in this negotiation, has repeatedly said there will be no change to 1701.
