Hochstein arrives in Beirut as truce deal shakes

W460

U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein arrived Monday in Beirut, amid a fragile Lebanon-Israel truce, which took effect on November 27.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had warned on Sunday that "there will be no agreement" if Hezbollah did not withdraw "beyond the Litani river", while Hezbollah new leader Sheikh Naim Qassem warned the group's patience with Israeli violations could run out before the end of the ceasefire's 60-day implementation timeframe.

Israel's state-run Public Broadcasting Corporation had also reported that Israeli soldiers will not withdraw from south Lebanon when the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement expires.

Hochstein led over a year of shuttle diplomacy to broker the ceasefire deal. He now co-chairs a U.S.-led monitoring committee that includes France, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, Lebanon, and Israel.

MTV channel reported that Hochstein will propose extending the 60-day implementation timeframe for an additional 60 days.

It said he will warn Lebanese officials that the monitoring committee will step in to disarm Hezbollah in south Lebanon if the Lebanese army fails to send ten thousand soldiers south of the Litani.

The local TV channel said Hochstein will also discuss the presidential file with Lebanese key players, pushing for the election of Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun.

"Hochstein will link the election of Aoun to the ceasefire and to Lebanon's reconstruction," MTV said.

Head of Hezbollah's Coordination and Liaison Unit, Wafiq Safa, announced Sunday that his party does not have a "veto" on electing Aoun as president. "The only veto to us is on (Lebanese Forces leader) Samir Geagea."

He said it is the Lebanese state's responsibility to address the Israeli violations and that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will discuss the violations with Hoschtein.

Hochstein had met Sunday in Riyadh with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, before heading to Lebanon.

SourceNaharnet
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