The Lebanese government and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah have approved an American plan that includes Lebanese civilians as part of ongoing peace negotiations with Israel, Saudi state-affiliated Al Hadath reported on Saturday, citing presidential sources.
As proposed by Deputy US Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, Lebanon will be represented by civilians, rather than only official diplomats or ministers, the Saudi outlet reported.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have all reportedly approved the plan.
According to the presidential source, Hezbollah has also agreed to the plan, but specified that it believes that it was in order to prevent official recognition of Israel.
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Senior officials in the Trump administration have recently approached top Lebanese government officials and urged them to open dialogue with Israel, sources told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
This comes as the Wall Street Journal reported that Hezbollah is in the process of rearming.
Sources familiar with Israeli and Arab intelligence reported that Hezbollah was restocking rockets, missiles, and other artillery either through smuggling routes or through seaports.
At the International Institute for Strategic Studies plenary session in Manama on Saturday, US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said that Hezbollah still had "thousands" of rockets aimed at Israel.
“Lebanon has no time left and must swiftly restrict weapons,” Barrack said. "Disarming Hezbollah, in our opinion, it's not reasonable to tell Lebanon to forcefully disarm one of its political parties. Everyone is scared to death of civil war."
"What can you do to have Hezbollah not utilize those rockets and missiles? You have a moment in time where Israel, who, is sitting ready to make border and boundary agreements with all of its neighbors, and owes America a favor... We're saying to Lebanon, end this."
"You have a team that is working for the world, get online," he added.
The rearmament is straining the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah is claiming that the weapons are needed to defend Lebanon. Israeli officials are reportedly concerned with the rate of rearmament.
“In the end, only a broader dialogue between Israel and Lebanon can advance and improve the situation on the ground,” a Western diplomat told the Post.
The IDF has stated that its activity in Lebanon is due to the violation of the agreement.