The United States is urging Lebanon to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, expressing dissatisfaction with its approach to Hezbollah. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff emphasizes strict conditions for reconstruction and territorial disputes, with a focus on disarming Hezbollah and resolving border issues. The development indicates intensified U.S. pressure on Lebanon’s political stance.
The United States has expressed its dissatisfaction with Lebanon’s approach towards Hezbollah and is advocating for direct political negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, emphasized this position during a meeting with a Lebanese figure in Doha.
According to an unnamed source from the meeting, the U.S. has rejected the Lebanese government’s current strategies as ineffective. Witkoff reportedly stated, “The U.S. refuses this maneuvering and jockeying, which has failed to achieve the necessary outcomes.”
Lebanon is expected to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, led by a civilian representative. Israel’s delegation will be headed by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Witkoff is said to have established stringent conditions for Lebanon, linking reconstruction efforts and territorial disputes resolution with Israel. The U.S. envoy articulated that there would be no reconstruction in critical areas of Lebanon unless a political agreement with Israel is finalized.
Furthermore, displaced residents will not be allowed to return to frontline towns until a political settlement is achieved. Witkoff indicated that Israel would retain control over five disputed border points for approximately one year while continuing to assert these conditions.
Concerning Hezbollah’s military presence, Witkoff asserted that the group would be prohibited from retaining its weapons across all regions, including areas where U.N. Resolution 1701 restricts armed groups. This development signifies an increase in U.S. pressure on Lebanon to amend its political stance regarding Hezbollah and initiate border negotiations with Israel.
In conclusion, the U.S. continues to assert pressure on Lebanon to engage directly with Israel, emphasizing the inadequacies of the current Lebanese approach toward Hezbollah. The insistence on political negotiations and associated conditions underscores America’s strategic interests in the region, while also reflecting a potential shift in Lebanon’s political landscape moving forward.
Original Source: www.lbcgroup.tv
