Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Diplomatic communications have intensified ahead of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) session, “aimed at renewing efforts to achieve a cease-fire and to increase pressure to stop the Israeli aggression on Lebanon,” caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Thursday morning according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
A UNSC briefing on the situation in the Middle East is scheduled for 3 p.m. New York time (10 p.m. Beirut time), followed by private consultations with all 15 Council members at 4 p.m., according to the Council's agenda.
“There are ongoing communications between the United States and France, which called for the Security Council meeting, aimed at reviving the announcement of a temporary cease-fire to allow the resumption of discussions on political solutions,” Mikati said.
"We have reiterated during these diplomatic communications our readiness to implement Resolution 1701, provided that Israel commits to all its provisions. We also emphasized the priority of stopping the Israeli aggression, which is causing a large number of martyrs and wounded, targeting civilians, and affecting rescue and relief workers, in clear violation of international laws and charters,” Mikati said.
Mikati added that Lebanon has reiterated its readiness to implement Resolution 1701, "provided that Israel commits to all its provisions." He also stressed the priority of halting Israeli attacks, which are causing "a large number of martyrs and wounded, targeting civilians, and affecting rescue and relief workers, in clear violation of international laws and charters."
Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, required Hezbollah’s militia to withdraw behind the Litani River in exchange for Israel halting violations of Lebanese sovereignty. The resolution also mandated a significant deployment of the Lebanese army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the border region.
Mikati stressed that "the government's emergency plan to assist displaced persons is being continuously implemented, with periodic and professional reviews to address any shortcomings or failures. The scale of displacement at once has created significant pressure, therefore, efforts must be intensified to meet all needs as much as possible."
Around 1.5 million people have been displaced in Lebanon since fighting broke out between Hezbollah and Israel and further escalated on Sept.23.
Over the past year, at least 2,141 people have been killed in Lebanon, with nearly 10,099 others injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
