Ahead of US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Beirut on Monday, Israel submitted a document last week to the US outlining its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon, according to US and Israeli officials who spoke to Axios.
The document, sent by Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to Hochstein last Thursday, includes principles that Israel insists must be part of any diplomatic solution to end the conflict with Hezbollah.
Opposing Resolution 1701
One of Israel's demands is to allow the Israeli army to engage in “active enforcement” to prevent Hezbollah from rearming and rebuilding military infrastructure in southern Lebanon near the border.
Another demand is to grant the Israeli Air Force freedom of operation in Lebanese airspace.
Both of these demands contradict UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) enforce the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The White House and the Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment on the demands.
An Israeli official told Axios that these demands were “1701 with increased enforcement. Our main message is that if the Lebanese army and UNIFIL do more, the Israeli army will do less, and vice versa.”
Hochstein is scheduled to meet with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and other Lebanese officials to discuss Israel's demands.
However, Berri had made it clear that he would oppose the amendment of UN Resolution 1701, which is effectively what Israel is demanding.
Speaking to Al-Arabiya, the Speaker of Parliament said that Hochstein’s visit would be Lebanon’s “last chance to reach an agreement before the US presidential elections.”
Hochstein’s Expected Proposal
Israeli and US officials told Axios that Hochstein is advocating for a substantial deployment of Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon, with at least 8,000 troops stationed in the area.
The US envoy also seeks to upgrade UNIFIL's mandate to assist the Lebanese army in preventing the presence of armed individuals or groups not under the control of the Lebanese government from being deployed near the border with Israel.
Sources informed MTV that Hochstein might propose merging Resolutions 1559 and 1701, with the new resolution being enforced under Chapter VII, which would allow countries to take military action in Lebanon at any time. This proposal is expected to face rejection.
The sources added that what Hochstein previously proposed is no longer on the table, and the current proposals have become much stricter.
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