Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has launched a three-point peace plan, driven by a sense of urgency to avert an escalation of violence and to shield Lebanon from being embroiled in the Gaza war.
In an interview with The Economist, he outlined the plan. Firstly, he proposes a humanitarian pause lasting five days. During this period, Hamas would release some of its hostages, primarily civilians and foreigners. Meanwhile, Israel would cease its military operations and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Hamas would stop firing rockets. If the ceasefire holds, they would move to a second stage and make it permanent. With the help of intermediaries, Israel and Hamas could also negotiate a prisoners-for-hostages swap. Western and regional leaders would then begin work on the third stage: an international peace conference for a two-state settlement for Israel and Palestine. “We will consider the right of Israel and the right of the Palestinians,” he says. “It’s time to make peace possible in the whole region.”
Mikati’s plan goes a step further, says The Economist, by including Iran, the chief orchestrator of what it calls “the axis of resistance” to Israel, referring to its network of proxy forces across the region including Hezbollah. “The Iranians will be part of a comprehensive peace,” he insists. “If we have [an agreement on] international and comprehensive peace, I am sure Hezbollah and Hamas will lay down their weapons,” he says.
According to The Economist, Mikati has been touring the region’s capitals and speaking to Western diplomats and politicians in an attempt to persuade them to explore ways of staving off an escalation of violence. He particularly wants to prevent Hezbollah from joining the fray against Israel and triggering a regional conflagration. “I’m putting all my pressure locally, regionally and internationally to prevent war,” says Mikati from his office in Beirut.
