"Any change to Resolution 1701 requires context in order to reach it, whether through an escalation that would force such a change or through diplomatic proposals, which could reach a proposal to withdraw from Lebanese territory and resolve the issue of points of dispute on the border with Lebanon." This is what diplomatic sources told Al Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday.
Documentation of the Egoz unit's activity on the Lebanese border // IDF Spokesperson
In this context, they also noted the visit of the American envoy, Amos Hochstein, last month. The same envoy who brokered the maritime border dispute a year ago.
To resolve the dispute on the border with Lebanon
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was intended to bring stability and long-term quiet to southern Lebanon, but Hezbollah established an extensive terrorist infrastructure in the area. Following the Second Lebanon War in 2006, it was decided to deploy UNIFIL soldiers to the area to observe the ceasefire, and it was determined that no weapons would enter the area without the consent of the Lebanese government.
About a week ago, Shirit Avitan Cohen reported in Israel Hayom that Israel is now demanding that a military presence south of the Latin River be prevented, and conveyed messages on the issue to its European allies.
Interim Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Photo: AP
Against this backdrop, the Lebanese newspaper close to Hezbollah reported that Lebanon's interim prime minister, Najib Mikati, held meetings with foreign and Arab officials as part of the Dubai climate conference in late November.
In conversations with them, he received messages similar to those conveyed to his foreign minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, during his visit to Europe. According to these messages, Israel faces a dilemma in light of the demand of northern residents to deal with Hezbollah's threat on the border, and that "the arrangement that existed before October 7 is no longer valid." Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new outline through the implementation of Resolution 1701.
According to the report, these are Israeli messages conveyed by emissaries from the West to Lebanon. They included proposals to establish a buffer zone that would keep Hezbollah – and especially its elite units – the Radwan Force – away from the northern border from the area south of the Litani River.
The goal: "to prevent war"
It added that France is promoting this outline, including by the French presidential envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and the director of French intelligence, Bernard Ami.
A common front against terrorism. Cohen and his counterpart, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, photo: Alan Azaria
The latter arrived two days ago on an unofficial visit to Beirut and met with Mikati and Lebanese parliament chief Nabih Berri. Meetings were also held with Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun and Acting Director of General Elias al-Bisri.
Sources told Al-Akhbar that the French official arrived in Beirut from Tel Aviv and focused his meetings on the situation in southern Lebanon and the need not to escalate the situation and isolate Lebanon from the events in the Gaza Strip. He also warned of the dangers of escalation to Lebanon and of the Israeli response.
At the same time, Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati recently noted that "in the coming months, negotiations will take place through the UN in order to bring about greater stability on the border." The goal, he said, was "to prevent a war that we don't know where it will end. We hope to reach a stage of full stability on our borders in the next three months." Meanwhile, according to a Hezbollah source, the last day in the north witnessed the most widespread escalation since the beginning of the war.
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