US Envoy Hochstein Working Closely with Lebanon and Israel to Achieve Lasting Peace

BEIRUT—U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein stated on Monday in Beirut that the United States was actively developing a solution to permanently resolve the conflict between Israel and Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, emphasizing that mere adherence to a previous U.N. resolution would not suffice.

U.N. resolution 1701, which brought an end to the previous round of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah in 2006, stipulates that southern Lebanon should be free of any troops or weapons besides those of the Lebanese state.

However, the Iranian-backed Shi’ite movement has not withdrawn its presence.

Ongoing tensions across the border led to Hezbollah launching missile attacks on northern Israel in support of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas following a violent attack in Israel from Gaza over a year ago. Israel initiated a significant offensive against Hezbollah last month.

Visiting Lebanon for the second time in two months, Hochstein engaged in discussions with Lebanese officials as part of a new U.S. mediation effort to bring peace to the Middle East after Israel’s elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week.

“Merely committing to [U.N. resolution] 1701 is insufficient for both sides,” stated Hochstein at a press conference.

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While the resolution serves as a foundation for resolving the conflict, additional actions are necessary to ensure its fair, accurate, and transparent implementation.

“We are collaborating with the government of Lebanon, the state of Lebanon, and the government of Israel to devise a solution that will put a permanent end to this conflict,” he explained.

Israel’s attack on Hezbollah has sparked concerns of a broader regional conflict between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah’s supporter.

Following what he described as a “highly constructive” meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a strong ally of Hezbollah engaged in diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict, Hochstein remarked:

“The United States is committed to ending this conflict as expeditiously as possible. This is the goal of President Biden and all of us are diligently working towards it.”