Hezbollah Gives Berri US Proposal Response, Lebanon to Deliver Today

The Lebanese response to the U.S. ceasefire proposal is in its final stages and is expected to be completed today, Monday, before being sent to U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein through the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, according to well-informed sources.

Based on this response, Hochstein will decide whether to travel to the region, the sources told the pro-Hezbollah newspaper al-Akhbar in comments published on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri received Hezbollah’s feedback on the draft proposal that U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson delivered last week, the daily reported.

Hezbollah is reportedly approaching the proposal with an open attitude and has delegated further discussions with the U.S. mediator to Speaker Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, according to the sources.

The sources added that Lebanon’s unified comments on the proposal have begun to shape a positive direction in handling the U.S. proposal, especially regarding the oversight committee for Resolution 1701’s implementation and the interpretation of self-defense provisions.

Hezbollah has opposed the inclusion of Germany and Britain in the supervisory committee. It seems to have been agreed that Germany will not be represented, as it is already part of the UNIFIL forces, and the U.S. does not object to excluding the UK, given London’s concerns about potential threats to its forces in the region.

Arab and European sources told al-Akhbar that Lebanon’s openness and positive engagement could pressure the Israeli government to endorse and implement the agreement, thereby limiting maneuvering opportunities for Netanyahu’s government.

Prominent political sources indicated that Hezbollah’s response aligns with Resolution 1701 and that Hochstein’s visit aims to discuss Lebanon’s position before presenting it to Tel Aviv, rather than to declare a ceasefire.

The negotiations have reached a critical phase, and Netanyahu faces increased pressure to accept the ceasefire, leading him to expand military targets in the limited time remaining, the sources added.