2024-01-11 04:53:15
The American website Axios reported, citing Israeli officials, that US envoy Amos Hockstein informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his intention to begin indirect negotiations regarding the land border with Lebanon, and also stressed the need to “reduce the intensity of military operations” in Gaza.
Hockstein will visit Beirut on Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati..
What did Netanyahu say to the American envoy?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials told Hockstein in Tel Aviv last week that there was only a “short period of time ahead” to find a diplomatic solution that would prevent an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Reducing the severity of Israel’s operations in Gaza is the solution
Hockstein is expected to meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and other senior Lebanese government and military officials to advance discussions on how to reach understandings that would restore calm along the border, a White House National Security Council spokesperson told Axios.
Three Israeli officials said that Hockstein stressed during his talks in Tel Aviv that once the IDF “fully transitions to low-intensity operations in Gaza,” this would help calm the situation in Lebanon. He also suggested that Israel issue a public statement announcing the transitional phase.
Demarcating the land border between Lebanon and Israel
Israeli officials said that Hockstein told Netanyahu that once skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah stopped, he wanted to begin indirect negotiations on the land border, similar to the negotiations that led to the agreement on the maritime border last year.
The officials said that Israel does not mind conducting negotiations on the land border with Lebanon.
For his part, Mikati said in several interviews with the Lebanese press that Lebanon is ready to enter into negotiations to reach long-term stability in southern Lebanon, including along the border with Israel.
The situation escalated on the Lebanese border
On Monday, the situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border escalated further after an Israeli raid killed field commander Wissam al-Tawil, who commanded Hezbollah’s “Radwan Brigade.”
Since then, the two sides have continued to exchange fire, with Hezbollah attacking the IDF’s Northern Command headquarters with drones and Israel killing several other field commanders of the armed group.
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