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Certain aspects of the British plan, presented to political leaders by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron during his recent visit to Lebanon, to resolve the crisis on the southern border have been revealed. According to well-informed sources, the plan proposes a joint ceasefire declaration by Lebanon and Israel and the withdrawal of military forces on both sides of the border.
The British also proposed the demarcation of the border all the way from Naqoura to Shebaa, and the installation of surveillance towers equipped with detection devices to be monitored by the UN peacekeeping force in South Lebanon, UNIFIL. Lebanon and Israel would be required to comply with these measures and with Security Council Resolution 1701.
However, Hezbollah officials denied having been approached in that regard.
The pro-Iranian group has yet to respond to the proposal of US envoy Amos Hochstein about finalizing the demarcation of the land border.
According to information obtained by This is Beirut, Hezbollah is reluctant to respond to the US initiative pending developments in Gaza and the political settlement between Israel and Hamas, fearing a resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza.
With regard to surveillance equipment along the Blue Line, Hezbollah refused attempts by UNIFIL several years ago to install surveillance cameras and connect them to a control room to prevent violations. The pro-Iranian group justified its refusal by arguing that the cameras are spy tools that can be used against it. In fact, Hezbollah asked residents of South Lebanon to disconnect their private surveillance cameras, claiming that Israel would use them in its operations.
A Hezbollah official contacted by This is Beirut pointed out that the comparison made between the UK-funded towers installed on the Lebanese-Syrian border, and those proposed in David Cameron's project, is inappropriate. In his view, the former were built in response to an international request to prevent the entry of weapons into Lebanon, unlike those proposed in the South, which would not be in line with the gist of Resolution 1701.
In other words, Hezbollah is refusing, as usual, any initiative leading to the pacification of the country's southern border, placing the interests of the Iranian axis ahead of those of Lebanon.
The British also proposed the demarcation of the border all the way from Naqoura to Shebaa, and the installation of surveillance towers equipped with detection devices to be monitored by the UN peacekeeping force in South Lebanon, UNIFIL. Lebanon and Israel would be required to comply with these measures and with Security Council Resolution 1701.
However, Hezbollah officials denied having been approached in that regard.
The pro-Iranian group has yet to respond to the proposal of US envoy Amos Hochstein about finalizing the demarcation of the land border.
According to information obtained by This is Beirut, Hezbollah is reluctant to respond to the US initiative pending developments in Gaza and the political settlement between Israel and Hamas, fearing a resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza.
With regard to surveillance equipment along the Blue Line, Hezbollah refused attempts by UNIFIL several years ago to install surveillance cameras and connect them to a control room to prevent violations. The pro-Iranian group justified its refusal by arguing that the cameras are spy tools that can be used against it. In fact, Hezbollah asked residents of South Lebanon to disconnect their private surveillance cameras, claiming that Israel would use them in its operations.
A Hezbollah official contacted by This is Beirut pointed out that the comparison made between the UK-funded towers installed on the Lebanese-Syrian border, and those proposed in David Cameron's project, is inappropriate. In his view, the former were built in response to an international request to prevent the entry of weapons into Lebanon, unlike those proposed in the South, which would not be in line with the gist of Resolution 1701.
In other words, Hezbollah is refusing, as usual, any initiative leading to the pacification of the country's southern border, placing the interests of the Iranian axis ahead of those of Lebanon.
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