Beirut expresses 'reservations' to US-Israeli truce proposal, rejects 'western oversight'
'There can be no undermining of our sovereignty,' Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed after receiving the US draft proposal
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has expressed several reservations to a US proposal for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, as negotiations are now underway in an effort end the conflict, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on 15 November.
Berri, who heads the Shia Amal Movement and its parliamentary wing, has been tasked by Hezbollah to conduct the negotiations on behalf of the Islamic resistance.
Lebanon is expected to reply to the US proposal in writing "very soon."
Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat that the US proposal does not give Israel permission to conduct military operations inside Lebanon after any ceasefire is reached.
Israeli leaders had previously included such freedom of action in their ceasefire demands, but US officials involved in the talks know this is unacceptable and not open for discussion, Berri stated.
"There can be no undermining of our sovereignty," he stressed.
The US proposal calls for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which was passed to end the 33-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Berri insisted no committee of western nations should be established to monitor the implementation of the resolution. Rather, UNIFIL troops, which are already deployed on the Israel-Lebanon border, are capable of monitoring compliance.
Despite these reservations, the negotiations are progressing positively, Berri told the Saudi newspaper.
Israel has carried out multiple airstrikes in recent days in areas of Lebanon where Berri's Amal Movement has strong support, in an apparent effort to pressure him in the negotiations.
Israeli strikes have flattened residential buildings in Berri's hometown of Tebnine and in the Al-Ghobeiry and Bourj al-Barajneh neighborhoods in southern Beirut in recent days.
"It seems that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu resorts to force when he wants a concession. But he doesn't know who he is dealing with, and such actions don't work with us," Berri commented in response to questions about the bombings.
The US proposal says that both Israeli and Hezbollah forces must withdraw from Lebanese territory along the border where they are currently fighting. Only the Lebanese army and UNIFIL troops will be allowed to be present there.
The proposal also demands that Lebanon will have to disarm Hezbollah within 60 days of signing of the agreement.
US President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly expressed support for a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon during recent discussions with Israeli officials.
"I want you to reach an agreement on Lebanon. I have no objections to the current plan," Trump told Ron Dermer, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs in a meeting on Sunday.