Israel wants to consolidate its rights to Lebanon’s air, sea and land borders — Shahan Kandaharian 

Speaking with Alpha News, Shahan Kandaharian, editor-in-chief of the Beirut-based Aztag newspaper, commented on rumors of a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group within the next 36 hours. Kandaharian noted that the main guarantor of the ceasefire is the American side, but France will also participate.

“It is about negotiations around UN Resolution No. 1701, mediated by the American delegate Hochstein.

According to this resolution, Israeli forces should be withdrawn from Lebanese territories, and Hezbollah forces should withdraw to the northern parts of the Litani River,” Kandaharian said.

He said Israel has demanded the restoration of security to its northern part and the return of displaced persons, while Resolution No. 1701 also redefines the structure of the regular Lebanese army.

“The positions occupied by Hezbollah must be replaced by the Lebanese army: troop replenishment, empowerment, redeployment,” he said.

At the same time, Kandaharian emphasized that new preconditions have been added to the preconditions underlying the resolution.

“According to the rumors, a control commission should act; France should also be involved,” he stressed and added that Tel Aviv opposes the change, especially since relations between Israel and France have been tense lately.

According to him, although there is no war between the regular armies of Israel and Lebanon, the ceasefire agreement should be accepted by official Beirut.

“Israel demands the complete dismantling of Hezbollah’s system and infrastructure. In addition, it wants to independently clarify the functions and geography of the deployment of the Lebanese army, but neither the guarantees of the Lebanese army nor the international commission satisfy Tel Aviv,” Shahan Kandaharian said.

Kandaharian also noted that Israel’s demands at first glance are directed against Hezbollah, but in fact Israel wants to consolidate its right to the air, sea, and land borders of Lebanon by conducting a military operation.