Hezbollah demands UNSC Resolution 1701 without alteration: Media
A man carries a Hezbollah flag as he walks on the rubble of his destroyed apartment following an Israeli airstrike in the Southern Subrub of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, November 1, 2024 (AP)
Israeli media reported that Hezbollah is demanding the complete implementation of UN Resolution 1701, without incorporating any clauses related to "Israel's freedom of action," including "the freedom of the Israeli Air Force" within Lebanese airspace, or any Israeli–US oversight concerning villages in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Channel 12 emphasized that Hezbollah "is not willing to accept anything gradual in this regard. It demands immediate action, a full return to Resolution 1701 without any modifications."
This stance by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, prioritizing Lebanon's interests through full implementation of Resolution 1701, aligns with the official Lebanese position.
Last month, sources told Al Mayadeen that Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri advised US envoy Amos Hochstein to seek a clear Israeli position on Resolution 1701 without adjustments.
Acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has also reiterated Lebanon's commitment to the exact terms of Resolution 1701, without additions or interpretations.
"Military Pressure on Hezbollah is Risky," say Israeli Officials
In a related report, The Wall Street Journal highlighted concerns among Israeli security officials that expanding military operations in Lebanon could lead to a costly war of attrition. These officials viewed an Israeli ground campaign in Lebanon aimed at pressuring Hezbollah as "fraught with risks."
Two days ago, Israeli Reserve Major General Israel Ziv, former Operations Division Chief, admitted that "Hezbollah is regaining strength. Israel's terms for a political settlement are thus decreasing; what Israel could have achieved yesterday is no longer attainable today or tomorrow."
He acknowledged that "if Hezbollah is not offered a specific concession or achievement, it will lose interest in a settlement, leaving no room for dialogue."
Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth also pointed out that Hezbollah possesses enough rockets to drive millions of Israelis into shelters daily, describing this capability as a "drain on Israeli resolve" that will reduce the Israeli occupation's demands in negotiations.
Stalemate in ceasefire negotiations
Sources have revealed a significant obstacle in ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war on Lebanon: the Israeli occupation's insistence on enforcing a ceasefire if the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) fail to secure the area.
According to The Wall Street Journal, sources familiar with the negotiations disclosed that the proposed draft includes a stipulation for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River, about 18 miles north of the occupied Palestinian border. The Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah's return southward.
The sources also indicated that "Israel is attempting to exhaust Hezbollah's arsenal by cutting off resupply channels and launching daily strikes." The Israeli occupation has reportedly requested support from Russian authorities in Syria to "block weapon smuggling routes from Syria into Lebanon."
In a related report, Jewish Insider cited anonymous sources stating that the draft proposal includes direct US involvement in monitoring to prevent Hezbollah from rearming in southern Lebanon. The Israeli occupation has also confirmed participation from the United Kingdom and France in maintaining the ceasefire, with both technological and human surveillance systems in place for southern Lebanon.
'Israel' seeking expanded capacity
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Wednesday that Israeli officials are adamant about retaining the ability to strike Lebanon at any time as part of the conditions for a potential ceasefire with Hezbollah.
During a parliamentary hearing, following discussions held in occupied al-Quds with Israeli officials last week, Barrot noted that this stance is becoming increasingly prominent in Israeli discourse.
"Today we hear in Israel voices calling for it to keep a capacity to strike at any moment or even enter Lebanon, as is the case with its neighbor Syria," indicated Barrot, who held last weeks talks with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and new Security Minister Israel Katz.
The top French diplomat argued that such a position "is not compatible with the sovereignty of a strong country," pointing to broader international efforts to strengthen governance in Lebanon.
Diplomats commented that any proposal including such an Israeli demand would likely be unacceptable to Lebanon.
This comes as the Israeli occupation military is now announcing the second phase of its attempted ground invasion of Lebanon after its first attempt failed to push Hezbollah out of the frontlines or stop its rockets and drones from being launched toward Israeli settlements.
Earlier, the Islamic Resistance's Operations Room vowed that the decision by the Israeli military to move to the second phase of the "ground maneuver" in South Lebanon would only result in further losses for Israeli forces, underscoring Hezbollah's readiness to counter any offensive.