Israel said today that there was progress in Lebanon ceasefire talks, and indicated that Russia can play a role in preventing “Hezbollah” to rearm through Syria. The Iranian-backed Lebanese movement, however, said it had not yet received proposals for a truce, Reuters reported.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, for his part, said that the main challenge will be the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which is being worked on diplomatically with the help of the US.
„I think there is noticeable progress,”, Saar said at a press conference in Jerusalem. “We are working together with the Americans on this issue”, he added.
„We will be ready to be there if we know, first of all, that “Hezbollah” is not on our border, that it is north of the Litani River, and that “Hezbollah” it will not be able to re-arm itself with new weapon systems”, the Israeli foreign minister pointed out.
Israel launched a major offensive against the Lebanese movement in late September, airstriking the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut and areas in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley that are its strongholds, and massing troops in border areas.
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The Litani River flows in southern Lebanon, about 30 kilometers north of the border with Israel.
Representative of “Hezbollah“ said in Beirut that diplomatic efforts had indeed stepped up, but indicated that neither his movement nor the Lebanese state had received any new proposals.
„There is a lot of movement between Washington, Moscow and Tehran and a number of (other) capitals,” the group's spokesman, Mohammad Afif, said in a televised statement. “I believe we are still in the phase of feeling the ground and presenting initial ideas and proactive discussions, but nothing concrete yet,“, he added.
The Israeli newspaper “Hayom“ wrote yesterday that diplomatic talks have made significant progress on a ceasefire proposal in Lebanon, according to which “Hezbollah” should withdraw north of the Litani River, ending its armed presence along the Israeli border, while the Israeli army should move back behind the internationally established border.
The best-selling Israeli newspaper “Yediot Ahronot“ said today that Israel and Lebanon have exchanged draft agreements through US envoy Ames Hochstein, demonstrating progress in efforts to reach a final agreement.