Israeli officials believe an agreement with Lebanon could be reached as early as this week, according to reports broadcast Monday on public radio Kan Reshet Bet. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a consultation Sunday evening with Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior security officials to discuss the terms of the deal. One of the major points of disagreement concerns France's involvement in the system. Lebanon insists that Paris be part of the agreement's monitoring mechanism, but Israel opposes this, due to the French reaction deemed “lukewarm” to the decision of the Hague Court. A compromise on this issue would nevertheless be in sight.
During his meeting on Thursday with mediator Amos Hochstein, Netanyahu was informed of the French decision to “respect the decision of the Court”, angering Israel which declared that it was “inconceivable that France would play a role central in the mechanism”. In recent days, President Biden has spoken with President Macron to try to find a solution.
For his part, Hochstein informed Lebanon of the preliminary Israeli agreement, after giving both parties an ultimatum. “There is a desire and an intention in principle to move forward,” said an Israeli source, adding that “it is not finalized, but the direction is positive.”
The American envoy had warned that he would withdraw from the negotiations if an agreement was not reached in the coming days, raising fears in Jerusalem of a possible Security Council resolution without an American veto.
Diplomat Dan Shapiro of the US Department of Defense will meet today with senior Israeli officials, including Minister Katz, to discuss the agreement and the monitoring mechanism to be led by the United States.
According to the Kan 11 channel, the agreement with Lebanon is already finalized, and Prime Minister Netanyahu is considering the best way to present it to the public.
France
