BEIRUT — Not to mention the advances in US envoy Thomas Barrack’s proposal to disarm Hezbollah, not to mention Lebanon will be automatically affected by Gaza negotiations in the coming weeks.
Consultations between the President of the Republic, Prime Minister and Parliamentary Chairman – Joseph Orn, Nawaf Salam and Nabi Beli were found in Beirut on Wednesday when Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Fahan arrived in Beirut on an unannounced visit to continue Hezbollah.
Sources revealed that the heads of three branches of the government believe that Barrack’s proposal would absolutely prefer Israel. Therefore, they are trying to establish a formula that does not drag Lebanon into chaos.
The barracks’ gradual movement reportedly pushes Lebanon to evacuate a wide area between the Ritani and the Awari rivers (rear base of resistance), and to force areas in Greater Beirut, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and Mount Lebanon.
Lebanese officials are also trying to formulate a response that does not lead to military escalation, as barracks have not suggested amid leaks that Israel is preparing major operations in Lebanon to complete the destruction of its Hezbollah facility.
This was also suggested by the French ambassador, Beirut and Herbe Tuna. Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi responded to him that resolution 1701 specifically addressed the south of the river, and that Israel was continuing its attack while Hezbollah had not violated it and enforced its provisions.
In an interview with the New York Times, Barack said the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel was a “complete failure” and that a carrot strategy is needed to disarm Hezbollah.
Barack proposed that this would require Lebanese forces to raid the home, warning that the step could face pushbacks from Shia communities that have long seen Hezbollah against alienation within Lebanon and invasion from Israel.
Barack said Washington is seeking financial support from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to rebuild war-affected areas, claiming “If Lebanon’s Shiites are getting anything from now on, they will work with it.”
Bin Fahan’s visit coincided with a meeting of five-member committees related to the Lebanese Files (US, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt). This means that this mechanism must be approved within the Cabinet amid Washington’s clear threat that Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah within a schedule that does not exceed two months.
Analysts believe that the main goal of Bin Fahan’s visit was to arouse the professional Sunni figures to be part of the Hezbollah siege, as they meet with some of them to promote the story that Shivaa Farm is not Lebanese (although most of its residents are Sunni and own authentic Estea documents registered on Ensto Island in Ensto, Sunni).
Moreover, this coincides with a visit to Syria by Riyadh by Sunni Mufti Abdul Latif Delian.
Barack also revealed to the New York Times that Washington is seriously opposed to the Lebanese government’s effective approach to Hezbollah. This could expose it to new sanctions and suspension of World Bank loans and grants.
Sources reported that Gov. Bank du Liban Karim Souaid, who recently visited the US, was asked about the measures the bank should take to fight the cash economy and close Hezbollah’s banking institution, Al Qard al-Hassan.