Lebanon is trying to get rid of the presence of Israeli occupation forces on its territory as soon as possible and is offering a phased plan to resolve border issues. This was stated by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in an interview with the Saudi newspaper “Asharq al-Awsat“.
“We sent our proposals to US Special Representative Tom Barak, which envisage developing a mechanism that would lead step by step to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the five southern regions that remain under their control“, Salam said.
The Prime Minister said that Beirut is also ready to consider the request of the US and Israel to disarm the Shiite Hezbollah units north of the Litani River. “The resolution of this issue is in line with the program of our government, which seeks to ensure that all weapons are concentrated exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese army“, he stressed.
“Lebanon deserves to be a normal state that guarantees the protection of its citizens, where peace, stability and the rule of law will reign“, the politician noted.
Earlier, the Prime Minister of the Republic strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon, calling them “a gross violation of national sovereignty and the ceasefire agreement reached on November 27 last year“. “Israel's actions pose a threat to stability in the region, which we seek to preserve“, Salam stressed. According to the Elnashra portal, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barak, who acts as a mediator between Lebanon and Israel, will arrive with a diplomatic mission in Beirut from July 7 to 10. Earlier, the American envoy, in an interview with the Al Hadath television channel, did not rule out the possibility of Lebanon and Syria concluding peace agreements with Israel in the context of the changes that have occurred in the Middle East.