Hochstein: Border deal can calm Israel-Lebanon conflict

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has stated that he does not foresee peace between Israel and Hezbollah but believes that enhancing Lebanon’s economy and armed forces could reduce Iran’s influence in the country.

In an interview with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Hochstein suggested that a phased implementation of a land border agreement between Lebanon and Israel could help mitigate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

“I’m not expecting peace, everlasting peace, between Hezbollah and Israel,” Hochstein remarked. “But if we can reach a set of understandings and remove some of the drivers of conflict by establishing a recognized border between the two for the first time, I think that will be a significant step forward.”

He proposed that the initial phase of this plan would involve allowing tens of thousands of displaced residents to return to their homes in southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Achieving this would require strengthening the Lebanese Army by recruiting, training, and equipping its forces.

The second phase would focus on an economic package for Lebanon, demonstrating international support and investment in the Lebanese people. “We have a solution for Lebanon’s electricity crisis,” Hochstein said. “We’ve put together a package that could provide them with 12 hours of electricity in a relatively short time.”

The final phase would involve formalizing a land border agreement between Lebanon and Israel.