The formation of “working groups”, as demanded by Washington, continues to stall in Lebanon due to Israel’s violations of the US-sponsored ceasefire.
The US has called for the formation of groups dedicated to the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, Israel’s withdrawal from the South and demarcation of the border between the two neighbors.
Lebanese sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the formation of these groups was discussed between President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam earlier this week.
The sources said Lebanon “has no problem with the formation of these groups (...) but Israel continues to violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and the ceasefire.”
Lebanon is clear in that it will not join diplomatic negotiations with Israel before these violations end, added the sources.
There are hopes that the negotiations would lead to the normalization of ties between the enemies, but Washington has not broached the subject with Lebanese officials because it already knows that it will be firmly rejected, they revealed.
Aoun, Berri and Salam agreed to adopt the negotiations mechanism under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and that is overseen by the international monitoring group following up on the implementation of the ceasefire.
Berri said that he “does not object to the formation of working groups, but how could they possibly meet while Israel continues its violations against Lebanon?” the sources quoted him as saying.
“Should Israel continue to be allowed to blackmail Lebanon, which has unilaterally respected the ceasefire that was sponsored by Washington and Paris?”
“How can we move on to a new phase in the South while Israel has not ceased its threats?” he wondered.
