US Envoy Amos Hochstein has voiced optimism over possible cease-fire in the continuous conflict between Hezbollah and Israel during his current visit to Lebanon. In Beirut, Hochstein called his talks with Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker endorsed by Hezbollah to negotiate a deal, “very constructive” on Tuesday.
This is a moment of decision-making,” Hochstein said. “I am here in Beirut to help bring that decision about, but ultimately it will be for the parties to make a decision to close out this conflict. It is within our reach now.
The Biden administration is racing to try to clinch a truce as hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military have drastically escalated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would press on with operations against Hezbollah even with any ceasefire arrangement in place. This stance is taken by Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr as a breach of Lebanese sovereignty.
Hochstein also expressed his concern about the timing, “Hopefully, in the next days, a final decision on this matter”, but he did not hold a Q&A session with journalists to avoid public negotiations. “I’m committed to doing everything I can to work with the governments of Lebanon and Israel to bring this to a close,” he added.
The U.S. State Department has transmitted proposals to both Lebanon and Israel, and both sides have responded. The U.S. is urging the complete implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Among other things, it calls for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River and for the Lebanese army to deploy in the south alongside UN peacekeepers.
An aide to Berri confirmed that an already written U.S. proposal presented last week has been agreed upon both by the Lebanese government and Hezbollah. However, there are still big question marks regarding the formation of a West-led committee tasked with overseeing the resolution’s implementation – something Lebanon cannot agree on.
Meanwhile, rescue workers were continuing to uncover bodies from beneath the rubble of recent Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, where tensions remained high. Hezollah launched a missile at Tel Avivi, wounding seven people, which has cast further doubt on the possibility of a cease-fire. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war last October, a minimum of 3,516 people have died, and another 14,929 were injured in Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, whereas the conflict in Gaza killed more than 43,972 Palestinians and over 104,008 injured.
