Report: Lebanon urges Israeli pullout in return for Hezbollah arms handover declaration

The Lebanese response to U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s paper is based on the “step-for-step” principle, “contrary to the U.S. envoy’s paper which calls on the Lebanese side to be handed over Hezbollah’s arms as a gateway for U.S. pressure on Israel to withdraw from the South,” Lebanese officials told Al-Jadeed TV.

“The Lebanese amendments include a proposal for synchronous steps by the two sides, starting by the Lebanese government’s declaration that Hezbollah’s arms will be handed over and followed by a gradual Israeli withdrawal from some border points, after which the process of handing over weapons in the North Litani area would begin, as a third phase synchronized with full Israeli withdrawal,” the sources added.

The visitors of Ain el-Tineh and the Grand Serail meanwhile told Al-Jadeed that Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam were “relieved” after their meeting on Saturday.

“Berri assumed the responsibility of relaying the format to Hezbollah to obtain its official stance on it within the next two days,” the visitors said.