Hochstein criticized in Israel as he says truce 'permanent', Lebanon occupation 'fantasy'
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has dubbed a ceasefire deal that would allow Israeli troops to remain in Lebanon as an occupying force "a fantasy."
Hochstein was criticized in Israel by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Benett wanted the deal to allow Israeli troops to remain in Lebanon in order to create a buffer zone.
"If you choose to have a dead zone or a demilitarized zone, then you are there as an occupier, and you are not there in agreement; which means that while you may have two, three, four or five kilometers inside Lebanon, there won’t be an agreement to stop [Hezbollah from] shooting at Israel from longer ranges," Hochstein told Israeli Channel 12 Wednesday.
"Yes, there are fantasy deals that are utopia where you get a ceasefire agreement with a security zone, but those won’t ever happen," Hochstein said, explaining that Lebanon would never accept that Israel occupy its south.
Netanyahu’s office for its part criticized Hochstein for comments made in an interview with CNBC, in which he said Lebanon's ceasefire was "permanent."
"Contrary to what was attributed to Hochstein, fighting can restart at any moment, as we saw today," the premier’s spokesperson said, as Israeli troops fired warning shots at people trying to return to their border villages in south Lebanon. Three journalists were injured Wednesday by Israeli fire in Khiam, and at least two people were wounded Thursday in Markaba. Israel also claimed it had "arrested four Hezbollah operatives, including a local commander, who entered the prohibited area".
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month cease-fire in which Hezbollah militants are to withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border. The buffer zone would be patrolled by Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers.
Israeli officials have said forces will be withdrawn gradually as it ensures that the agreement is being enforced. Israel has warned people not to return to areas where troops are deployed, and says it reserves the right to strike Hezbollah if it violates the terms of the truce.
Hochstein assured Lebanese media outlets Wednesday that Israeli forces will withdraw before the Lebanese army deploys, but warned that necessary measures would be taken if Hezbollah violated "again" U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.
Resolution 1701, which was passed in 2006 to end the last Israel-Hezbollah war never was fully carried out. Its goal was for the Lebanese military to be the exclusive armed presence in southern Lebanon alongside U.N. peacekeepers, and for Hezbollah and Israeli forces to withdraw from the area.
According to a copy of the ceasefire agreement provided by the Lebanese government, the Lebanese military would gradually deploy in the south and dismantle unauthorized military infrastructure and weapons production facilities.
The United States and France, in addition to UNIFIL peacekeepers, will monitor violations and support the process.
Source: Naharnet
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