Report: Witkoff says Lebanon to be asked to hold political negotiations with Israel

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has said that his administration is not satisfied with “the Lebanese officials’ performance in dealing with Hezbollah,” stressing that Washington “rejects this approach of maneuvering and jockeying which has not achieved what’s needed,” Annahar newspaper quoted an unnamed Lebanese figure as saying in remarks published Tuesday.

The daily noted that the Lebanese figure had met with Witkoff in Doha several days ago.

“Lebanon will be asked to head to direct and face-to-face political negotiations with Israel and to task a civilian figure with this mission, while the latter will be represented by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who is the closest to Benjamin Netanyahu’s mentality,” the Lebanese figure quoted Witkoff as saying.

Below are some of the other points that Witkoff reportedly mentioned according to the Lebanese figure:

- There will be no reconstruction in the South and the other affected areas in the Bekaa and Beirut’s southern suburbs before launching this settlement with Tel Aviv, and residents will be prohibited from returning to front line towns to practice their daily lives.

- Israel will continue to occupy the five points for around a year and will not engage in any settlement or solution for the 13 disputed points unless things go according to Washington’s plan, but it might withdraw from these points prior to the date of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

- Hezbollah is prohibited from keeping its weapons, not only in the South Litani area but also in all places of its deployment, from the Northern Litani area to the Bekaa.