Israel has demanded the United States pressure Lebanon to act against Hezbollah in areas outside of the IDF’s Forward Defense Line, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported on Saturday night, citing several Israeli security officials.
“The reality on the ground is complicated,” the sources said, noting that without US political pressure, the ceasefire deal could easily collapse.
However, KAN noted that it is “unclear” if the US plans to act on Israel’s request.
Since its announcement, Hezbollah has violated the agreement several times, launching projectiles and drones toward Israel’s northern communities and IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.
KAN noted that there is some internal division within Lebanon itself regarding the talks.
Lebanese Christians are the most supportive of the talks and the prospect of establishing formal relations with Israel, a source in a Lebanese-Christian party that opposes Hezbollah told KAN, adding that the terror group must not be given an excuse to drive a “wedge” between them.
Further, Israel’s attempt to repair the damaged statue of Jesus “was an important message to Christians,” KAN cited the source as saying.
The main obstacle, KAN noted, is Hezbollah and its political ally Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s parliment speaker and leader of the Shi’ite Amal Movement.
If Israel “maintains its occupation, whether of areas, positions, or by drawing yellow lines, it will smell the scent of resistance every day,” said Berri.
According to KAN, both Saudi Arabia and the US are trying to get Berri on its side in order to further isolate Hezbollah and prevent it from stirring up trouble within Lebanon itself.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Source:
www.jpost.com
