Lebanon studying ceasefire proposal submitted by Hochstein
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson has handed Speaker Nabih Berri a letter containing a ceasefire proposal from U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein and Berri has promised to respond within two to three days, Al-Jadeed TV has reported.
"Berri is optimistic that a ceasefire can be reached within days or a week if no sudden development comes up," Al-Jadeed added.
Diplomatic sources told Al-Arabiya television that Hochstein's letter includes positive points and others rejected by Lebanon.
"Lebanon was relieved after (U.S. President-elect Donald) Trump gave the signal to Hochstein to continue his mission," the sources added.
The Israel Hayom newspaper meanwhile said that "as part of the emerging agreement for a ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel will agree to the arming of the Lebanese army by third party countries."
A senior U.S. official told U.S. news portal Axios on Thursday that Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's talks this week at the White House were "very good and closed most of the remaining gaps between Israel and the U.S. regarding the text of the cease-fire agreement and the letter of guarantees that Israel requested from the U.S. regarding freedom of action in Lebanon."
"It's not a Done Deal yet, but it's very close," the official added.
An Israeli official confirmed that the U.S. and Israel "are on the same page" regarding the cease-fire agreement in Lebanon. "There is an understanding between us and the Americans, but now the U.S. needs to come to an understanding with the Lebanese," said the Israeli official.
"The complexity on the Lebanese side is great. The Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri and the Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati are talking on the one hand with Hezbollah and on the other hand with the U.S. in an attempt to reach closure," Axios said.
"Both sides want a cease-fire agreement. The question is how much they are willing to compromise in order to achieve it," a senior U.S. official told Axios.
At this point there is no date for the visit of Hochstein to Beirut. Senior Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios that he would not travel until it was certain that an agreement had been reached.
Source: Naharnet
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