Israel 🇮🇱 | Lebanon 🇱🇧 | U.S. 🇺🇸
Israel has submitted a detailed document to the United States outlining its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the ongoing war in Lebanon, according to two U.S. and two Israeli officials who spoke to Axios. The document, delivered ahead of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Beirut, sets forth Israel’s key demands aimed at ensuring Hezbollah’s long-term disarmament and preventing the militant group from rebuilding its military infrastructure near the Israeli border.
Key Israeli Demands:
1. Active Enforcement Against Hezbollah
Israel insists that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) must be allowed to carry out active enforcement to ensure Hezbollah does not rearm or rebuild its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, particularly in areas close to the Israeli border. This would involve ongoing IDF operations to monitor and neutralize any attempts by Hezbollah to restore its military capabilities.
2. Airspace Freedom for the Israeli Air Force
Another crucial demand is that the Israeli Air Force must retain freedom of operation in Lebanese airspace. Israel wants unrestricted air force access to conduct reconnaissance and strike operations, particularly to prevent weapons shipments and movements by Hezbollah.
3. Modification of UN Security Council Resolution 1701
Israel’s demands challenge the current framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which entrusts the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with the responsibility of enforcing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel argues for a new, more robust version of 1701 with enhanced enforcement capabilities.
• Israeli Perspective: Israeli officials propose a dynamic where if UNIFIL and the LAF take stronger action, the IDF will scale back its operations, but if they do not, Israel reserves the right to act unilaterally to defend its interests.
• U.S. Objections: U.S. officials have expressed concerns, stating that such conditions would likely be unacceptable to Lebanon and the international community, as they undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and complicate UNIFIL’s mandate.
U.S. Diplomatic Efforts:
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is scheduled to visit Beirut on Monday to meet with key Lebanese officials, including acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Hochstein will present Israel’s demands and seek a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict. However, Berri has already expressed opposition to any amendments to UN Resolution 1701, stressing that Lebanon’s commitment to the resolution is unwavering.
• Hochstein’s Proposal: Hochstein is pushing for the deployment of at least 8,000 Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has maintained significant control in recent years. He also proposes upgrading UNIFIL’s mandate to enhance its ability to assist the Lebanese army in preventing Hezbollah or other armed groups from operating near the Israeli border.
• Challenges with UNIFIL: U.S. officials admit that since the 2006 war, UNIFIL has struggled to enforce Resolution 1701, allowing Hezbollah to build extensive military infrastructure in violation of the ceasefire agreement. Hochstein’s goal is to empower both UNIFIL and the LAF to take a more active role in maintaining stability in the region.
Military Operations and Financial Infrastructure Targeted:
On the eve of Hochstein’s visit, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah-affiliated facilities across Lebanon. The strikes focused on Hezbollah’s financial network, including a key building in Beirut that Israeli intelligence claims operates independently of Lebanon’s financial system.
• Hezbollah’s Financial Network: According to Israeli intelligence, the targeted bank, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars annually from Iran, plays a central role in funding Hezbollah’s military operations. The strike is part of Israel’s broader campaign to weaken Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure and disrupt its operational capabilities.
Broader Context and Future Implications:
This latest set of Israeli demands comes as part of a wider strategy to reshape the post-conflict landscape in Lebanon. Israel’s conditions, particularly regarding IDF enforcement and airspace freedom, are aimed at ensuring that Hezbollah cannot pose a future threat to Israeli security. However, these demands pose significant diplomatic challenges, with Lebanon and its international allies likely to resist changes that compromise the country’s sovereignty or alter the delicate balance established by UN Resolution 1701.
Source: This report is based on information provided by Axios through interviews with U.S. and Israeli officials concerning Israel’s proposed diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon.
