Senior Lebanese Official: “We Expect a Positive Development, We Are Moving to a New Phase”

A senior political figure in Lebanon told the Lebanese newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan on Thursday morning that “the coming days are expected to bring positive developments related to the implementation of the fourth round of negotiations.” The official added that “the American side is adopting the Lebanese point of view and supporting it.”

The official also said that “American mediation persuaded Israel to withdraw from the draft declaration of intent that was previously proposed, in favor of the basic principles that the Lebanese delegation adhered to during the negotiations.” He also stressed that the Lebanese basic principles are based on giving priority to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire before moving to the next stage, which concerns the trial area and the areas where combat activity is prohibited. He added, “This path means moving to a new phase based on understandings and defined implementation mechanisms.”

Meanwhile, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Binaa reported that the American ambassador to Lebanon proposed to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri a solution that includes a full ceasefire and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, in return for the withdrawal of Hezbollah operatives in accordance with the trial area and the deployment of the army south of the Litani. According to the report, Berri passed the proposal to Hezbollah, which has not yet responded, and at present the proposal is still under discussion and review. However, sources involved in the negotiations told the newspaper that Hezbollah has reservations about the proposal in the absence of guarantees of a full Israeli withdrawal.