US special envoy Amos Hochstein arrives to meet Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker in Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov 19, 2024. Hochstein arrives in the Lebanese capital on Nov 19 for talks with officials on a truce plan, which Lebanon largely endorses, to halt the ongoing war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group. (Photo by Fadel Itani/NurPhoto)
White House special envoy Amos Hochstein is set to meet with Israeli officials on Thursday to hammer out the last details of a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which Israeli officials said could be signed “within days.”
Hochstein arrived in Israel on Wednesday evening after spending two days in Lebanon for intense negotiations . He said there were “very constructive talks,” adding that an agreement “is now within our grasp.”
Hochstein will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on Thursday to present the latest Lebanese concerns and try to bridge remaining gaps, according to reports.
“If they reach conclusions on the disputed clauses – it is possible to sign within days,” an Israeli official told Channel 13 News. The Arabic Sky News channel cited sources saying “about 80% of the conditions for the agreement have already been agreed upon.”
However, a senior Israeli official cautioned that “what remains open is very sensitive and could still overturn the agreement.”
In an interview with Channel 12, he highlighted that the primary remaining obstacle is Israel’s demand for freedom of action in the event of a violation of the agreement.
The proposed solution appears to be for the United States to include a unilateral letter of commitment as part of the agreement, but Israel is seeking further support from other Western countries.
According to Channel 12, the agreement will begin with a 60-day period, during which the IDF will gradually withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, to be replaced by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL (United Nations peacekeeping force).
Netanyahu will reportedly present the agreement not as “the end of the war” but as a “ceasefire,” declaring that “quiet will be answered by quiet.”
Implementation of the agreement will be supervised by an international committee, with a mixed team of inspectors including representatives from Western powers (the U.S., Great Britain and France) alongside representatives from moderate Arab countries (Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates).
Despite Hochstein’s optimism, Lebanese sources suggested Hezbollah and Iranian leaders are preparing for negotiations to continue.
Recently-appointed Hezbollah Sec.-Gen. Naim Qassem delivered another speech on Thursday, confirming the terror group transmitted its comments on the draft agreement to Hochstein.
Qassem stressed that Hezbollah would continue launching its attacks on Israel during the negotiations, and alleged that “Netanyahu wants the entire Middle East, not just Gaza and Palestine.”
According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper, Lebanon demanded that a precise date for a complete, rapid and simultaneous withdrawal of IDF troops from all Lebanese territory would be announced immediately upon the signing of the ceasefire deal.
This action should be accompanied by the release of captive Hezbollah terrorists by Israel, as well as handing over the bodies of killed fighters, the Lebanese newspaper stated. According to the report, during the talks with Hochstein, Hezbollah threatened to “do what it must” to release the captives and bodies, which would prevent a ceasefire.