The spokesperson for the Lebanese presidency, in a press conference, stated: “We want to uphold the pluralistic democracy that protects everyone,” emphasizing that “the decision of war and peace lies solely in the hands of the Lebanese state.” She added that President Aoun assured the visiting American delegation in Beirut of his commitment to Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.
Earlier today, the American envoy, Thomas Barrack, confirmed the acceptance of the Lebanese government’s plan to confine arms to the state, noting that Tel Aviv would respond to Beirut’s plan by presenting its own withdrawal plan from Lebanon. Barrack stated during a press conference in Lebanon: “Israel will not withdraw from Lebanese territories before the Lebanese government’s plan (regarding confining arms to the state) is implemented.”
He continued, “We do not want a civil war in Lebanon, and we will work to ensure Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon, but the most important thing is the disarmament of Hezbollah.” He added, “Israel will take steps in line with the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the Lebanese government will present a plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament, which I believe will succeed. The Lebanese government has outlined 11 points and promised to adhere to them, with the first being a plan to disarm Hezbollah.”
He further stated, “Israel claims it does not want to occupy Lebanon, and the Lebanese proposal to disarm Hezbollah will not necessarily be military.” Earlier, the American special envoy, Thomas Barrack, during his visit to Israel on Sunday, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where they held talks regarding limiting Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the future of relations with Syria.
Channel 12 in Israel reported that Barrack “held a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss President Donald Trump’s administration’s request to curb Israeli attacks on Lebanon, in addition to negotiations with Syria.” The channel added that “Barrack also met with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who had recently met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaybani, as well as meetings with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz as part of his official visit.”
The channel cited Israeli and American sources saying that the Trump administration is pushing for new security arrangements between Israel and Lebanon, and between Israel and Syria, as a first step towards normalizing relations in the future. Earlier, the Trump administration requested that Israel respond to the Lebanese government’s approval of Hezbollah’s disarmament plans by limiting its military operations in Lebanon and gradually withdrawing its forces from the areas it still controls in the south, according to the Israeli channel.
