The United States has drawn a roadmap to end the war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, calling for the group's withdrawal from the border area and its disarmament.
Ambassador Robert Wood, US Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, told the Security Council on Thursday that “for the diplomatic resolution to be durable, the parties must fully implement Resolution 1701,” which calls for Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the border area and the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon.
The Council’s emergency meeting was called by France.
Wood called for enforcing an arms embargo and “taking steps to help ensure that Iran does not resupply what remains of its terrorist proxy.”
He urged “Lebanon’s political leaders set aside their differences and assemble a government that responds to the needs of the Lebanese people.”
“In other words: The solution to this crisis is a not a weaker Lebanon. It’s a strong and truly sovereign Lebanon, protected by a legitimate security force,” the Ambassador added.
Wood urged the international community to condemn Iran “for undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty,” saying “we must be prepared to impose severe costs on Iran for flouting this Council’s resolutions.”
The UN political chief called the international community’s failure to stop escalating military action in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria “damning” and warned that the region is “dangerously teetering on the brink of an all-out war.”
Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the emergency meeting of the Security Council that every effort must be made now “to reverse this cycle of violence and bring Lebanon and Israel – and the region – back from the brink of catastrophe.”
In Lebanon, she said, Hezbollah militants and other armed groups must stop firing rockets and missiles into Israel, and Israel must stop bombing Lebanon and withdraw its ground forces.
As for Lebanon's acting UN Ambassador Hadi Hachem, he told the Council that the country is fully committed to the French-American initiative for a 21-day cease-fire “during which we can settle outstanding border issues.”
He accused Israel of agreeing to the initiative “before reneging on it and escalating its aggression.”
