Naharnet

What will Netanyahu discuss with Trump regarding Lebanon?

In their upcoming meeting in the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump will the discuss the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, “which is a plan that cannot be separated from the Lebanese file, especially the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament, in addition to reaching security and economic agreements with Lebanon and Syria,” multiple sources said.

“Netanyahu will present to Trump intelligence reports claiming that Hezbollah is seeking to rebuild its military capabilities, in an attempt to obtain a U.S. green light for waging a new operation against Hezbollah,” U.S. sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.

“Although the Trump administration is so far preferring to avoid an escalation, Tel Aviv is proposing harsh conditions to avoid war that are similar to the model imposed in Gaza, topped by the full disarmament of Hezbollah and preventing it from rebuilding any military structure,” the daily added.

“The Israeli proposals include a map dividing the area south of the Litani River into three lines: the existing Blue Line, the “red” security line where Israel seeks to establish a military or security presence, and the third line, known as the “green line” or “line of interest,” which effectively constitutes a buffer zone with an economic character, subject to strict conditions. This zone may include areas to which residents would be prevented from returning, in contrast to Lebanon’s insistence on the return of the residents and a cessation of attacks,” Nidaa al-Watan said.

“Thus, the Trump-Netanyahu meeting resembles a political-military-economic operations room, where maps of conflict are discussed as much as areas of influence, amidst an open race between the option of major escalation or the imposition of forced settlements on the victor’s terms. This places Lebanon and the region on the brink of a delicate phase that necessitates close monitoring of every American-Israeli move,” the newspaper added.


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