Report: US tells Lebanon to go to negotiations under fire

The U.S. administration has delivered an urgent message to President Joseph Aoun, calling for a move toward negotiations with Israel, An-Nahar newspaper said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had previously received the same message during meetings with American and other Western officials, the daily said.

"This request calls on Lebanon to engage in direct and rapid negotiations with Israel and there is no objection to these talks reaching the level of peace between the two countries, similar to the Egyptian and Jordanian experiences, at a time when Syria has not been late in joining this club," the newspaper said.

This diplomatic warning to Lebanon and its government stems from the fact that the Americans and Israel have sensed, first, "Hezbollah's ability to recover part of its military capabilities-- particularly after its units managed to carry out operations and launch rockets from towns south of the Litani River," An-Nahar added.

"Additionally, it has become clear to all concerned parties that the war front against Israel cannot be separated from the war in Iran, unlike the first version of the conflict," it said.

Speaker Nabih Berri has also been informed of the message according to diplomatic sources.

"This attempt aims to drag Lebanon into negotiations under fire and force it to make concessions to Israel. The Presidency does not oppose entering into serious negotiations—primarily under American sponsorship—if they lead to an Israeli withdrawal from the South and a settlement of border issues," the daily said.

Government sources close to Salam meanwhile stated that they do not object to internationally-sponsored negotiations if they lead to a ceasefire and a new agreement while taking into account the new developments on the ground. "But we are not heading toward normalization with Israel," the sources added.

According to diplomatic sources, the U.S. said that it is "safer for Lebanon to head toward these negotiations," and that Washington "will ensure that the process matures, with the elimination of all of Hezbollah's military capabilities, and an Israeli withdrawal from occupied points and areas south of the Litani."