Report: Hochstein has serious proposal, Borrell relays message on Shebaa Farms
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein will carry a “serious” proposal to Lebanon regarding the border situation with Israel, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has conveyed an Israeli message to Lebanese officials regarding the occupied Shebaa Farms, a media report said.
“Hochstein’s visit is part of the U.S. attempt to contain the escalation between Lebanon and Israel, seeing as its spread to the region would threaten U.S. interests,” political sources told al-Binaa newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.
“The U.S. mediator will carry to the Lebanese government suggestions and offers aimed at resolving the border conflict between Lebanon and Israel -- which means that Hezbollah’s Radwan forces would retreat to the area north of Litani and the firing of rockets at Israeli posts would stop, in return for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the occupied territories, especially Ghajar, the 13 contested points and Kfarshouba, while the Shebaa Farms would be put in the U.N.’s custody,” the sources said.
Official sources also told al-Binaa that “Hochstein is carrying a comprehensive and serious proposal as part of a full package for resolving the border conflict between Lebanon and Israel, including the Shebaa Farms, and will discuss it with the Lebanese officials during his upcoming meetings in Beirut.”
Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab had met with Hochstein on Monday in Rome, ahead of the latter’s visit to Beirut, which will take place on Thursday or Friday, the newspaper said.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has also carried a proposal similar to Hochstein’s during his recent visit to Lebanon, the daily revealed.
“Borrell relayed to Lebanese officials Israel’s readiness to agree to temporarily put the Shebaa Farms in the U.N.’s custody in return for guarantees that Hezbollah would withdraw to the area north of Litani,” the newspaper said.
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