VOA: The American envoy in Beirut, efforts for a ceasefire

2024-11-18 19:12:24, Kosova & Bota CNA

Lebanese sources announced that US envoy Amos Hochstein will visit Lebanon on Tuesday for talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Beirut has been positive about Washington's efforts to end the war, but has called for changes in how the ceasefire would be monitored, a senior Lebanese official said.

The visit of the White House envoy has been announced by several Lebanese sources, but has not yet been confirmed by Washington. The talks are expected to be based on a US ceasefire proposal presented to Lebanon last week.

American efforts for a ceasefire have returned to the center of attention as its ally Israel has intensified its offensive against Lebanon.

Israeli strikes on two Beirut neighborhoods on Sunday killed six people, including at least one senior Hezbollah official. It marked the first time Israel struck central areas of the capital in more than five weeks.

A second Lebanese official said some points of the American proposal had been agreed and others would be discussed Tuesday with Mr. Hochstein.

Both Lebanese officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

World powers say a ceasefire in Lebanon should be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Under the terms of this cease-fire, Iran-backed Hezbollah appears to be moving weapons and fighters north of the Litani River, about 30 km from the border with Israel.

Since launching an offensive against the militant group in September, Israel has dealt major blows to Hezbollah, including killing its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah has continued to launch rockets towards the northern part of Israel, where even today the alarm sirens for attacks were heard.

Hezbollah sent its remarks to Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri about the US proposal, saying it would not stand in the way of a ceasefire, the senior Lebanese official said.

Lebanon has spoken out against a proposal to expand the composition of a ceasefire monitoring commission, possibly including Germany or Britain.

Israel has long complained that Resolution 1701 has never been properly implemented, noting the presence of Hezbollah fighters and weaponry along the border.

Lebanon says Israel has violated it by regularly flying into its airspace.

Mr. Berri, who has Hezbollah's backing to negotiate, told the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Friday that discussions were taking place about what he called "a proposal for an alternative (monitoring) mechanism."

"We will not support such a thing," he said, adding that there was a "clear mechanism" that could be activated, referring to UN peacekeepers.

He said the proposal does not give Israel leeway to act if Hezbollah violates the agreement - an Israeli demand rejected by Lebanon.

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, lawmaker Simon Abi Ramia appeared optimistic, saying Lebanon was on the verge of a ceasefire unless there was some "maneuvering by Israel," as the prime minister's office said in a statement. ./ VOA