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Israel, Hezbollah Negotiate Hochstein Proposals amid Escalating Violence

US mediator Amos Hochstein (Reuters)
US mediator Amos Hochstein (Reuters)
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Israel, Hezbollah Negotiate Hochstein Proposals amid Escalating Violence

US mediator Amos Hochstein (Reuters)
US mediator Amos Hochstein (Reuters)

With Israel pushing to include Lebanon in the Doha negotiations and US mediator Amos Hochstein proposing a new ceasefire plan, Israel and Hezbollah have escalated their cross-border shelling.
Experts in Tel Aviv say both sides are using firepower as leverage. Israel is pressuring Hezbollah by displacing Lebanese villages and destroying homes, while Hezbollah ambushes Israeli forces and targets settlements.
Escalating strikes continued Monday amid reports that US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators believe a Lebanon deal is unlikely without a prisoner swap to end the Gaza conflict.
An Israeli security official told Haaretz that Hezbollah, following the assassination of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, is trying to show it remains strong and influential in Lebanon.
Hezbollah insists on linking the Gaza and Lebanon fronts and rejects Israel’s push to amend UN Security Council Resolution 1701, stalling negotiations.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel has set the following conditions for negotiations on the Lebanese front:
Full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which requires Hezbollah to implement a complete ceasefire, withdraw its forces beyond the Litani River, and allow the Lebanese army to deploy in southern Lebanon. Following these steps, Israel would retreat to the international border.
Implementation of Resolution 1559, which demands the disarmament of Hezbollah and its dismantling as an independent militia within 24 months, led by the Lebanese army and supported by international enforcement.
Creating a new UN Security Council resolution that imposes sanctions on any country providing arms to Hezbollah, specifically naming Iran, Syria, and Russia.
Adding a clause that allows Israel complete military freedom to enforce these resolutions if Hezbollah’s power in Lebanon increases or if there are ceasefire violations.
Israelis say Hochstein, set to arrive in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, agrees on adding enforcement mechanisms to the UN Security Council resolution but is seeking to ease Israel’s conditions.
He aims to create a new negotiation framework to finalize the border between Israel and Lebanon and resolve disputes over 12 border points.
Israel believes that by applying military pressure on Hezbollah and its support network, as well as Lebanon overall, it can impose its terms and create significant shifts in the relationship between the two countries. This escalation is occurring despite the rising costs of Israel's operations in Lebanon.
Strategic expert Amatzia Baram states that Israel aims to shift the balance of power in Lebanon and reduce Iranian influence in the region, which could unite various factions within Lebanon and beyond.
He emphasizes that Israel should establish a new reality in Lebanon through a political settlement, using its military power as leverage.
Unlike past agreements that primarily affected Israel, this time, two key conditions must be met: a meaningful enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the agreements and the legitimacy of proactive military action by Israel if the accords are violated.

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Arab World

Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.