Amos Hochstein, the US envoy to the Middle East, is expected to arrive in Israel today (Sunday) with a document agreeing to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, according to Arab media. According to these sources, Hochstein’s document notably provides for the withdrawal of Hezbollah beyond the Litani River, the creation of an international commission to supervise the agreement, the strengthening of control of the Lebanese army to prevent the smuggling of weapons, and negotiations to define the land border between Israel and Lebanon. Reports indicate that Beirut has not expressed opposition to the proposal, and is now awaiting Israel’s response.
Separately, an Arab diplomatic source told the Lebanese news site “Asas Media” today that Hochstein “shows measured optimism about the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hezbollah.” According to this source, Hochstein’s caution can be explained by Netanyahu’s recent statements to the French media, calling a ceasefire in Lebanon a “dream.”
According to this Arab diplomatic source, the agreement document drawn up by Hochstein around the implementation of Resolution 1701 includes 11 points:
– A 21-day period of calm based on Resolution 1701.
– Cessation of hostilities between Israel and all armed groups in Lebanon – including stopping Israeli Air Force flights over Lebanon and stopping rocket and drone fire by Hezbollah.
– Withdrawal of Hezbollah with its weapons and equipment north of the Litani River.
– Israeli withdrawal behind the Blue Line.
– *Reinforcement of the presence of the Lebanese army south of the Litani with 8,000 additional soldiers.
– Call for an international conference to support the Lebanese army.
– Formation of a Franco-British-German commission responsible for supervising the implementation of the agreement.
– Establishment of a legal mechanism allowing UNIFIL forces to operate freely south of the Litani.
– Strengthening the control of the Lebanese army at Beirut airport, at border posts with Syria and at the port of Beirut.
– Work on closing land smuggling crossings between Lebanon and Syria.
– Opening of negotiations to definitively establish the land borders between Lebanon and Israel.
The source clarified that Lebanon does not oppose this document from Hochstein, who will try to understand the Israeli position during his visit. Diplomatic signs indicate that Israel will not oppose a deal to keep Hezbollah from the border.
Concerning Gaza, the report also mentions an Egyptian-American proposal for a temporary ceasefire lasting one to three weeks. This truce would allow the release of four to seven hostages in a first phase, and the IDF would withdraw its forces from central and southern Gaza to allow Hamas and Islamic Jihad to assess the number of hostages still alive in the Strip. Gaza. Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad informed Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar during his visit to Cairo that Egypt still insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphia axis and the Rafah crossing.