The quadrilateral meeting in Naqoura indicates a positive shift in Israel-Lebanon relations, following Lebanon’s political changes. Agreements include establishing joint working groups to address military withdrawals, the release of prisoners, and border demarcation. Israel’s goodwill gesture includes releasing detainees, while concerns about Hezbollah’s military presence remain. Effective negotiations are essential for stability and security.
Recent negotiations held at a quadrilateral meeting in Naqoura involving representatives from Israel, Lebanon, the United States, and France have indicated a positive shift in Israeli-Lebanese relations. This progress coincides with the political transition in Lebanon, marked by the election of President Joseph Aoun and the establishment of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government.
The meeting concluded with the decision to create three working groups tasked with addressing critical issues including: (1) the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from five locations they currently control along the border; (2) the release of Lebanese prisoners held by the IDF; and (3) resolving the disputed elements related to the permanent border demarcation as illustrated by the Blue Line from 2000.
As a sign of goodwill towards President Aoun, Israel has agreed to release five out of eleven Lebanese detainees in its custody. These topics are central to Hezbollah’s argument for its military presence, justifying its existence as a protector of Lebanon against perceived Israeli aggression. Since the ceasefire, Hezbollah has concentrated on rebuilding its military strength.
Although Hezbollah has allowed the Lebanese state to pursue certain objectives, it maintains a passive threat to re-engage militarily if these goals are not met. The new leadership in Israel and Lebanon is keenly aware that maintaining a ceasefire and curtailing Hezbollah’s resurgence is mutually beneficial. This dynamic enables the Lebanese government to gain leverage against Hezbollah during its internal conflicts.
However, Israel must remain vigilant regarding the limitations faced by the Lebanese state, which has successfully avoided direct confrontations with Hezbollah, as well as the Lebanese military’s inadequacies in containing Hezbollah’s military operations in the south. Accordingly, discussions within the working groups should prioritize territorial issues essential for Israeli security.
Israel’s strategy should differentiate between the immediate withdrawal of specific military positions captured during the conflict and the deeper, more complex challenge of permanently delineating the border. To facilitate this, Israel should condition the IDF’s withdrawal from five strategic points on the Lebanese army’s deployment readiness and its enforceability against Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon.
Additionally, it is crucial that the establishment of a permanent border comprehensively addresses areas of Israeli concession while simultaneously demanding Hezbollah’s complete disarmament and fostering revised official relations between Israel and Lebanon.
In conclusion, the recent quadrilateral discussions signal a budding opportunity in Israeli-Lebanese relations, marked by significant political changes in Lebanon and mutual interests in stability. However, achieving these goals necessitates careful negotiation, ensuring Israel’s security priorities are met, particularly regarding the Lebanese state’s ability to manage Hezbollah’s military activities. Overall, effective collaboration among all parties involved is critical for a lasting peace and diplomatic resolution.
Original Source: aurora-israel.co.il
