Lebanon-Israel Indirect Talks: No Breakthrough, Report Says

Lebanese officials have communicated to visiting Western diplomats in recent weeks that Lebanon is committed to the mutual execution of Resolution 1701, as per Lebanese insiders involved in the discussions. They described the suggestions reported by U.S. media outlet Axios as favoring Israel, with which Lebanon has no interest.

In conversations with the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, the officials emphasized that the international delegates did not present a concrete plan, and there have been no negotiations initiated on any topic.

A separate individual monitoring the talks shared with the newspaper that no new initiatives have been introduced since the crisis began. They noted that the discussions have failed to yield any practical solutions or breakthroughs. Moreover, there was no assurance provided by the international envoys about Israel vacating all the Lebanese territories it occupies.

According to information obtained by Axios from two Israeli officials and another knowledgeable source, the United States, along with four European nations, aims to declare in the upcoming weeks a set of pledges by Israel and Hezbollah. These commitments aim to de-escalate tensions and promote peace along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Israel. During the meeting, Hochstein proposed “new understandings” for the border, inspired by the 1996 “Grapes of Wrath” agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended Israeli military actions in Lebanon, as reported by Axios.

It was mentioned that these new agreements wouldn’t be formally signed by the involved parties. Instead, the United States, alongside the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, would announce a statement outlining the commitments agreed upon by each party.