Lebanon faces difficult choice between Iran and Israel amid conflict
10 reported3 unconfirmed
According to a single-source report from DW, Lebanon is in an increasingly difficult position as its government begins another round of talks with Israeli representatives in Washington. Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has displaced over a million people, killed thousands, and caused about $1.4 billion in damage. Israel says it plans to stay in a "security buffer zone" in Lebanon to protect its northern citizens from Hezbollah attacks. Iran, which supports Hezbollah, wants the fighting to stop and made respect for Lebanese sovereignty a condition of its memorandum of understanding with the US, which halted the Iran-US-Israel war that started in late February. Neither Israel, Hezbollah nor Lebanon were involved in those negotiations, and the Lebanese government sees Iran's tactic as an infringement on its own sovereignty. Critics of the direct Lebanon-Israel talks say what Israel wants would leave Lebanon beholden to its neighbor and that forcing the Lebanese army to confront Hezbollah could spark a new civil war.
What’s reported
Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has displaced over a million people, killed thousands, and caused about $1.4 billion in damage.
Israel says it plans to stay in a "security buffer zone" in Lebanon.
Iran made respect for Lebanese sovereignty a condition of its memorandum of understanding with the US, which halted the Iran-US-Israel war that started in late February.
Neither Israel, Hezbollah nor Lebanon were involved in those negotiations.
Lebanon has been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict with Israel directly, discussing how to neutralize Hezbollah.
Critics say what Israel wants would leave Lebanon beholden to its neighbor and that forcing the Lebanese army to confront Hezbollah could spark a new civil war.
An Egyptian-backed framework proposes a three-phase process for Hezbollah, including ending cross-border activities, integrating fighters into Lebanon's army, and transforming Hezbollah into an exclusively political and civilian entity.
The framework also requires shifting Lebanese politics from a sectarian system to a more fluid, equal power-sharing system.
The US backed the creation of a "de-confliction cell" to monitor the end of fighting in Lebanon, including representatives from Lebanon, the US and Iran, but not Israel.
The New York Times reported that Israeli soldiers in Lebanon have been given new orders meant to lower tensions.
Open questions
Whether the Egyptian-backed framework will succeed, given past similar plans have come to nothing.
Whether Hezbollah will reciprocate and disarm, as experts quoted in the article express skepticism.
Whether Israel will accept the integration of Hezbollah fighters into the Lebanese army.
Key figures
Michael Young, senior editor at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut
Mohanad Hage Ali, regional expert writing for the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Luigi Toninelli, research fellow at ISPI
Faysal Itani, senior fellow at the Middle East Policy Council
Sources: dw.com
