Axios quoted American and Israeli officials as saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon with American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, while Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that he is awaiting the results of Hochstein’s contacts, who is said to be working on drafting an agreement.

The American website reported that Netanyahu also discussed with the envoys the efforts being made to resume negotiations on the agreement of the Israeli prisoners in Gaza, and the Iranian threats to respond to the Israeli strike.

Israel Hayom reported that the Americans hope to reach a framework agreement within days, while Israeli leaders announced that their goal is to neutralize Hezbollah and paralyze its ability to launch rockets at northern Israel, and to allow the return of about 60,000 people who were displaced from these areas due to the bombing to their homes.

On Wednesday, the Authority reported that Hochstein is drafting an agreement stipulating the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon within a week, and that it will resume its military operations if the agreement is violated.

The proposal calls on Lebanon and Israel to abide by Security Council Resolution 1701, with a 60-day truce in place, with Lebanese forces to begin deploying in the south at the time of the Israeli withdrawal.

The resolution also calls for the creation of an area between the Blue Line (the border between Lebanon and Israel) and the Litani River in southern Lebanon, free of any armed men, military equipment and weapons, except those belonging to the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The intended agreement between the two parties will not prevent them from the right to defend themselves if either of them violates the agreement, and the spread of weapons in southern Lebanon is prohibited except under the supervision of the Lebanese government itself, according to the draft.

The alleged draft emphasizes granting the Lebanese government the necessary powers to implement the decision to prevent Hezbollah from arming itself, while monitoring and dismantling military facilities that the government does not recognize for producing weapons, as well as dismantling any armed infrastructure that does not comply with Resolution 1701.

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Mikati awaits Amos' response

In Lebanon, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that US Presidential Envoy Hochstein informed him yesterday that he is seeking to reach a ceasefire in Israel, in preparation for searching for ways to fully implement Resolution 1701.

Mikati added that Lebanon is waiting to be informed by Hochstein of the results of his contacts, expressing hope that a ceasefire agreement with Israel will be announced in the coming hours or days, but he considered that the ongoing Israeli escalation does not give rise to optimism soon.

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Mikati described Israel's threats against Lebanese civilians to evacuate entire cities and displace them as an additional war crime, stressing that Lebanon asked diplomatic bodies to intensify pressure on Israel to stop its aggression.

American desire

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel newspaper quoted American officials as saying that President Joe Biden's administration now believes that securing a ceasefire in Lebanon is the best way to end the war in Gaza.

US officials told the newspaper that Washington had changed its assessment in recent weeks, after months of insisting that calm in Gaza would lead to an easing of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Times of Israel quoted an Israeli official as saying that US envoy Hochstein's visit to the region came after indications in Lebanon and Israel of their readiness to move forward according to the US proposal, but the Israeli official ruled out reaching an agreement before the US elections.

For his part, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the United States seeks to resolve the conflict in Lebanon through diplomatic means, and to avoid a long Israeli military campaign similar to what happened in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel newspaper quoted American officials as saying that President Joe Biden's administration now believes that securing a ceasefire in Lebanon is the best way to end the war in Gaza.

US officials told the newspaper that Washington had changed its assessment in recent weeks, after months of insisting that calm in Gaza would lead to an easing of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Times of Israel quoted an Israeli official as saying that US envoy Hochstein's visit to the region came after indications in Lebanon and Israel of their readiness to move forward according to the US proposal, but the Israeli official ruled out reaching an agreement before the US elections.

For his part, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the United States seeks to resolve the conflict in Lebanon through diplomatic means, and to avoid a long Israeli military campaign similar to what happened in Gaza.