Lebanon and Hezbollah Agree to US Ceasefire Proposal with Israel

(Patria) - Lebanon and Hezbollah have agreed to the US proposal for a ceasefire with Israel with some comments on the content, a senior Lebanese official told Reuters on Monday, describing the efforts as the most serious to date to end the fighting.

Ali Hassan Khalil, the assistant speaker of parliament Nabiha Berri, said Lebanon submitted a written response to the US ambassador to Lebanon on Monday, and White House envoy Amos Hochstein is traveling to Beirut to continue talks.

There was no comment from Israel.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed heavily armed movement, has supported its long-time ally Berri in negotiating a ceasefire.

"Lebanon has put forward its comments on the proposal in a positive atmosphere," Khalil said, refusing to give more details.

"All the comments we have given confirm precise adherence to Resolution 1701
(UN) with all its provisions," he said.

He was referring to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. According to the resolution, Hezbollah has no armed presence in the area between the Lebanese-Israeli border and the Litani River, which flows about 30 km north of the border.

Khalil said the success of the initiative now depends on Israel, saying that if Israel does not want a solution, "it could create a hundred problems".

Israel has long claimed that Resolution 1701 has never been properly implemented, pointing to the presence of Hezbollah fighters and weapons along the border. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the law, including flying warplanes in its airspace.

Khalil said Israel is trying to negotiate "under fire," referring to the escalation of its bombing of Beirut and Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

"This will not affect our position," he said.