Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope that a ceasefire between the two countries will be reached “very soon.” the Defence Forces of Israel and the group terrorist Lebanese Shia of Hezbollah, although he did not specify a specific date.
"I assure the Lebanese that their homeland will not fall and we hope that we will witness a ceasefire within a very short time," Mikati said in an interview with Al Jadeed television channel.
In the interview, he referred to his contacts with the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, who visited Lebanon on October 21 and who today has arrived to Israel.
“I have been in contact with the American envoy, Amos Hochstein, on his way to the region, and we hope to reach a ceasefire soon,” he insisted, before describing the “move” by the American envoy as “a sign of hope that I hope will lead to a ceasefire.”
Mikati also stressed that "what is needed is a ceasefire and an American guarantee" and that details can be discussed later.
He added: “Hochstein suggested to me that it is possible to achieve positive things before November 5 (the day of the presidential elections in the United States).”
In this regard, Mikati said he had “cautious optimism” and insisted that Lebanon’s conditions for a ceasefire are the implementation of Security Council resolution 1.701, which stipulates the disarmament of Lebanese militias and the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, as well as the deployment of the Army in southern Lebanon, where they operate. the terrorist organization's members Hezbollah, which in fact es a satellite of Iran.
"The army needs equipment to play its role and there should be no weapons in the area south of the Litani River, except in the hands of Lebanese legitimacy," the Lebanese prime minister said, referring to the armed forces.
Two of the top advisers to the Joe Biden Administration arriveoin Israel on Thursday to try to close a deal to end the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon and allow displaced civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes, US media Axios reported, citingnto three sources familiar with this trip.
The advisors who travelThey went to Jerusalem They are Amos Hochstein, mediator for the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, and Brett McGurk, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.
Israeli and US officials explained, according to Axios, that they believe that after the blows suffered by Hezbollah in the last two months, inclusiveto elimination of their leader, the sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the group terrorist may finally be willing to reach an agreement.
Axios recalls that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a meeting with several ministers and senior leaders of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and intelligence services on Tuesday evening to discuss the possible deal, according to Israeli officials.
These sources said that Amos Hochstein was, however, waiting for Israeli leaders to decide whether they could go ahead with the deal before travelling to Israel.
And the fact that he and Brett McGurk traveledarain Israel suggests that the head of the ExecutiveBenjamin Netanyahu is in favor of moving forward with the deal.
Israeli officials said, according to the specialized media, that the agreement being discussed is based on the reimplementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war in Lebanon.
The deal being considered envisages a ceasefire announcement followed by a 60-day transition period, the officials said.
During this transition period, Hezbollah The Lebanese army would move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River and away from the Israeli border. The Lebanese army would deploy some 8.000 soldiers along the border with Israel, who would join UNIFIL peacekeepers there, and the Israel Defense Forces would gradually withdraw to the Israeli side of the border. Aurora and EFE
In the statements of the Lebanese Prime Minister I see a trap. Resolution 1701 calls for the withdrawal of Hezbollah to the north of the Litani River and for Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory. The question is: Should Israel withdraw from the Chebah Farms, which Lebanon considers part of its territory?