Hochstein in Ain al- Tineh: Tying Lebanon's fate to another conflict is not in it's interest

BEIRUT — U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein said Monday during a visit to Beirut that Washington wants to end the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel "as soon as possible," urging that a cease-fire in Lebanon should not be tied to the war in Gaza.

Following a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hochstein stated that "linking Lebanon's fate to another conflict is not in the country's interest," in response to Hezbollah’s repeated claims that the conflict with Israel will not end as long as Israel's offensive on the Palestinian enclave continues. The American diplomat added that the U.S. is working on a "formula that would end the conflict once and for all," emphasizing that a "commitment" from Beirut and Tel Aviv to implement U.N. Resolution 1701 "is not enough."

Berri said that “the meeting had been good,” noting that “what counts are the results.”

Read also

Hochstein returns to Beirut to push for presidential vote and '1701 plus'

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 July War between Hezbollah and Israel, mandates that only the Lebanese Army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) be deployed in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah is present and armed. It also calls for a halt to Israeli land, sea, and air violations of Lebanese sovereignty. The Israeli army launched a large-scale offensive on Lebanon on Sept. 23, after nearly a year of daily cross-border exchanges of fire. On Sept. 30, Israel announced a ground offensive. Since then, several villages in southern Lebanon have seen Israeli troops and tanks present, while others have been nearly wiped off the map.

Israeli conditions

The American media outlet Axios reported Sunday that Israel had handed the U.S. a document outlining its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon. Israel’s demands include authorization for the Israeli army to "actively implement" measures ensuring that Hezbollah does not rearm or rebuild its military infrastructure near the border, according to Axios, citing an Israeli official. Israel is also requesting that its air force maintain operational freedom in Lebanese airspace.

Last week, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said that negotiations are "in the hands" of Berri, in coordination with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Berri had told the press that Hochstein’s visit was the "last chance" to reach a diplomatic solution.

'Rapid withdrawal' of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon

Mikati, in an interview with Saudi channel Al-Arabiya on Sunday, reiterated that there is no alternative to U.N. Resolution 1701, but that "new agreements" could be found for its implementation, according to a statement from his office.

The Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmad Aboul Gheit, also on a visit to Beirut, said that obtaining an “immediate cease-fire” in Lebanon was the pan-Arab organization's “priority.”

“I emphasized specific priorities, including an immediate cease-fire and the election of a president,” he said from Ain al-Tineh, following a meeting with Berri. He also affirmed that “Resolution 1701 is essential and must be implemented literally and as quickly as possible.”

“We are opposed to the cruelty with which UNIFIL has been treated in south Lebanon,” he continued, adding that it was ‘sad to see that the U.N. Security Council has not reacted in a dissuasive manner to the Israeli aggression against UNIFIL.

The Secretary General of the Arab League also stressed the need “for Lebanon to receive guarantees that Israel will not repeat its attacks,” asserting his rejection of “any foreign interference on Lebanese soil.” Finally, he called for a rapid withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territories “it has entered or is occupying.”

Asked about the possibility of destroying Hezbollah, he replied: “You can't destroy an idea.”

Pushing for diplomacy

The American envoy was subsequently received at the Grand Serail by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

“The priority is the cease-fire and the full implementation of Resolution 1701, which is the main pillar of stability in the region,” said Mikati. He also noted that “diplomatic efforts are being made to achieve an imminent cease-fire.”

Hochstein stressed that “diplomatic efforts are ongoing and serious."

“We are working to achieve a cease-fire in the period ahead and to support the full and comprehensive implementation of resolution 1701. All parties must work to reach a formula of agreement on how to implement the resolution,” he insisted, according to remarks reported by the state-run National News Agency.

Hochstein also held talks with the army's commander Joseph Aoun.