The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office delivered a document ahead of White House Special Envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Beirut today
Israel gave the US a document last week that included its terms for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon and thereby allow displaced civilians from both sides of the border to return home, two US officials and two Israeli officials disclosed to Axios.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office gave the document to the White House ahead of White House special envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Beirut on Monday to discuss and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, Israeli officials said.
US and Israeli officials told Axios that Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who is a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sent the document to Hochstein last Thursday.
Israeli officials revealed that the terms document was drawn up from discussions Dermer had with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Armed Forces about the principles Israel is demanding. to be part of any diplomatic solution to end the war with Hezbollah. An Israeli demand is to allow the IDF to engage in “active enforcement” to make sure Hezbollah does not rearm and rebuild its military infrastructure in areas of southern Lebanon close to the border, an Israeli official said.
The official added that Israel is also demanding its air force to have freedom of operation in Lebanese airspace.
These two demands contradict UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which states that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) enforce a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We are talking about resolution 1701 with increased enforcement. Our main message is that if the Lebanese army and UNIFIL do more, the IDF will do less and vice versa,” the Israeli official told me.
A US official said in turn that it is highly unlikely that Lebanon and the international community will agree to these terms, which dramatically undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty.
The White House and the Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment.
It is noted that Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in Beirut today Monday where he will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament and other Lebanese officials to discuss Israeli demands.
Source :Skai
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