The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is close to Hezbollah, reported Friday morning from its sources that the "land border drawing" file is not a hot topic as has been reported in recent days. The sources said U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shay had spoken with senior officials in the case, but clarified that the Lebanese government had not asked Washington to mediate on the matter. It should be noted that this week there were reports of a dialogue on the issue between UNIFIL and the interim government in Beirut, as they expressed interest in the case.
It was also reported that the Americans informed Lebanese officials that the administration was preoccupied with other issues and did not see the current situation at the border as "an urgent matter that requires swift action." According to the report, the Israeli government also did not demand mediation that would lead to a decision on the land border with Lebanon.
Convoy of Hezbollah flags near the border in Metulla
Against the background of Hezbollah's opposition to negotiations on the land border, a newspaper close to it quoted senior Lebanese officials as informing the American side and UN representatives that Lebanon sees no need for negotiations around the land border and that Israel must evacuate all points of contention there. The officials were quoted as saying that Lebanon is interested in determining the international border with "Palestine," which was recognized in 1923 (in fact, referring to the British Mandate for Palestine}), and that it is impossible to conduct an argument according to the Israeli equation that does not refer to the Har Dov area. This is because, according to them, the dispute in that region is between Syria and Lebanon – and not between Lebanon and Israel.
Hezbollah soldiers in Lebanon (archive), photo: AP
In addition, an official source was quoted as saying that the current contacts of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein were unrelated to this dossier and that he had visited Israel as part of a mission related to American efforts to achieve normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. It was also reported that his meetings dealt with the energy sector and contacts between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. However, Hochstein is reportedly expected to visit Lebanon next month following the expected start of drilling work in the EEZ region in the south of the country.
Meanwhile, it was reported that the US ambassador to Lebanon informed interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati that her country was not interested in any tension in the south of the country and that she had sent a clear message from Israel that Jerusalem had no interest in any escalation. It was also reported that the ambassador stressed that as far as the Biden administration is concerned, UNIFIL must coordinate with the Lebanese army to deal with all points of tension, referring to Israel's demand to evacuate Hezbollah's tent erected in its territory.
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