AA / Istanbul / Rania Abu Shamala
US envoy Amos Hochstein said Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah to end their conflict is “within our reach.”
“It’s a decision-making moment. I am here in Beirut to facilitate this decision, but it is ultimately the decision of the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. It is now within our reach,” Hochstein said at a press conference in Beirut, following his talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
“If I came back, it is because we have a real opportunity to put an end to this conflict,” he added, describing his discussions with Berri as “very constructive”.
“Today we had very constructive discussions with the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri. We have continued discussions in recent weeks with a view to bringing points of view closer together,” he continued.
“I hope that the next few days will result in a clear decision,” Hochstein said.
Later on Tuesday, the US envoy is scheduled to meet with interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati to explore the possibility of reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hochstein is also expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday.
The United States, Israel’s main ally, is mediating between Tel Aviv and Beirut to reach a ceasefire agreement ending more than a year of attacks between Hezbollah and Tel Aviv.
Last week, Berri confirmed that Beirut had received a US proposal for a ceasefire with Israel.
He denied, however, that the proposal “included any freedom of movement for the Israeli army in Lebanon,” a condition he called “unacceptable” and “non-negotiable.” He reiterated Lebanon’s refusal to compromise on its sovereignty.
Israel has engaged in a cross-border war with Lebanon, launching a campaign of airstrikes in late September against what it claims are targets of the Hezbollah group.
According to Lebanese health authorities, more than 3,500 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, nearly 15,000 have been injured and more than a million have been displaced since October last year.
On October 1 this year, Tel Aviv widened the conflict by launching a ground attack in southern Lebanon.
*Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj
Only part of the dispatches, which the Anadolu Agency broadcasts to its subscribers via the Internal Broadcasting System (HAS), is broadcast on the AA website, in summary form. Please contact us to subscribe.
