Positive Developments Expected Ahead of Lebanese-Israeli Negotiations with Possible Ceasefire

A senior political source confirmed to Nidaa Al-Watan that the days leading up to the next round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, scheduled for the 22nd of this month, are expected to witness positive developments linked to implementing the outcomes of the fourth negotiation round. This follows clarifications conveyed by the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michele Aoun, during his meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and subsequent discussions with Berri’s advisors.

The source explained that the US side adopts and supports the Lebanese perspective and has succeeded in persuading the Israeli side to withdraw from a previously proposed draft declaration of intent. Instead, Israel has accepted the principles firmly upheld by the Lebanese delegation during the negotiations, which have received clear US backing in the recent phase.

The source emphasized that the Lebanese principles prioritize reaching a comprehensive ceasefire before moving to the next stage concerning the experimental zone and the areas where combat activities are prohibited. The source considered that this approach effectively means not returning to the conditions that existed before March 2 but rather moving to a new phase based on different understandings and specific implementation mechanisms.

It was also noted that work is underway to finalize the executive mechanism that will clarify the various ambiguities and concerns raised by the involved parties. This preparation aims to pave the way for announcing a comprehensive ceasefire and beginning the implementation of the agreed understandings within a timeframe expected to be defined before the resumption of the upcoming negotiations.