US paper 'cannot pass' as it is, Hezbollah sources say

A U.S. paper that was presented to Lebanon’s government with specific objectives and timelines on how to disarm Hezbollah and fix the economy "is not acceptable as it is" to Hezbollah, according to sources close to the group.

The sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Friday, that Hezbollah's disarmament cannot happen through the "carrots and sticks" approach or through threats and pressure.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack had told the New York Times that disarming Hezbollah would require "carrots and sticks" and involves the Lebanese Army searching house to house for weapons.

The sources said the topic needs time to be discussed and that pressure for a rushed response and a "take-it-or-leave-it" approach will not work.

Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc had said Thursday that it is important that the Lebanese response preserves Lebanon's demands, rights and sovereignty and that Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories in south Lebanon and its commitment to the ceasefire deal are "naturally" required as a first step.