Israel, Lebanon May Reach Ceasefire Deal Before US Election: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Israeli media claim that a draft ceasefire agreement with Lebanon is nearing completion and may be formalized before the US presidential election.
While US media have recently reported claims of an impending ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, along with related plans, the entity known as the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation has released a proposed draft for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The Israeli media claims that the ceasefire agreement on the Lebanon front is expected to be completed in the coming days and that the US government may announce it before its presidential election.
In releasing this draft, it stated that, under the proposal, Israel and Lebanon must implement UN Resolutions 1701 and 1559, with the Lebanese Army committed to overseeing the implementation of Resolution 1701. The complete implementation of this resolution would occur over a 60-day ceasefire period, during which the Israeli military would withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon within seven days of the ceasefire’s start, while Lebanese Army forces would simultaneously be deployed in those areas.
Additionally, Israeli media reported that, under this draft, 10,000 Lebanese Army troops would be stationed along the border with occupied Palestine, and following the 60-day ceasefire period, Israel and Lebanon would conduct indirect negotiations via the US to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and address border disputes.
Accordingly, an international mechanism may also be established to monitor and implement the agreement, led by the US with participation from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, UNIFIL (the United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed in southern Lebanon), and regional countries.
According to this proposed draft, Israel would still be permitted to conduct reconnaissance flights in Lebanese airspace, though these flights should neither be visible to the naked eye nor break the sound barrier.
While American media have recently discussed Israel’s interest in a ceasefire with Lebanon, the US website Axios reported that an agreement to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could be reached within a few weeks.
Last night, Axios quoted two US officials as saying that significant progress was made in ceasefire negotiations in Lebanon within the past 24 hours.
Informed sources, however, reported that these discussions remain speculative, with Hezbollah stressing that it will not engage in any negotiations while under fire and that hostilities must first cease.