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par Alvise Armellini
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell on Tuesday urged the Israeli government to support “today” a proposed ceasefire agreement in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet later today to approve a text providing for an end to the conflict between the Jewish state and the Lebanese Shiite movement, according to an Israeli official.
An agreement could then be announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and his American counterpart Joe Biden, four senior Lebanese sources reported on Monday.
Speaking at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy, Josep Borrell said there was no reason not to implement the ceasefire agreement.
“Let's hope that today (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu will approve the ceasefire agreement proposed by the United States and France. No more excuses. No more additional demands,” he said. he said.
According to Josep Borrell, one of the sticking points in the text is based on whether or not France participates in a committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire, which the United States must chair.
The Lebanese have expressly requested France's participation but the Israelis have doubts, indicated Josep Borrel.
“This is one of the points that is still missing,” he explained.
On Tuesday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said he hoped that a ceasefire would be concluded during the day between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Lebanese army is ready to deploy at least 5,000 soldiers in southern Lebanon in the event of a possible withdrawal of Israeli troops, he added.
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, with Maya Gebeily, French version by Blandine Hénault, edited by Augustin Turpin)
