Lebanese Official Calls for Peace Deal, Cites Hezbollah as Obstacle

A Lebanese official has told Hebrew media outlets that there is a "last chance for peace" between Lebanon and Israel, warning that Hezbollah is actively working to sabotage any negotiation process. The official suggested that the Israeli military is the only force capable of confronting Hezbollah but stressed that Israel must guarantee it will not occupy Lebanon and refrain from targeting Beirut.

According to the official, the Lebanese people "dream of peace with Israel today," describing Hezbollah as a "cancer on Lebanon." He acknowledged that a pilot plan to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its infrastructure in three Lebanese villages had not been very successful, attributing this to the weakness of the Lebanese army and its inability to confront Hezbollah alone.

The official stated that a peace agreement is possible if Hezbollah is disarmed and Israel fully withdraws from Lebanese territory, emphasizing that "Israel's security cannot come at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty." He cautioned that Hezbollah is attempting to provoke disproportionate Israeli military responses to derail the process and urged Israel to exercise restraint and avoid attacking Beirut.

Criticizing statements by extremist Israeli ministers about establishing settlements in Lebanon, the official believes such remarks damage peace prospects. He concluded that achieving peace "will take several years, but it is possible," envisioning a future where relations between the two countries could be radically different, potentially allowing Israelis to visit Beirut.