LEBANON OPENS THE DOOR TO CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL AS US SANCTIONS LOOM
▶ PM Hariri says discussions over maritime border and Hezbollah missile factories making progress
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of a maritime deal with Israel and said Lebanon was ready “to move from cessation of hostilities to a ceasefire” with the Israelis under a UN mechanism.
Mr Hariri spoke on Thursday at a roundtable in Washington attended by The National, where he discussed the political and economic challenges that engulf Lebanon, as well as the threat of US sanctions.
“Our bilateral relationship with the US is very important when it comes to aid, security co-operation and refugees. We are hoping to develop it and to bring investments in the oil and gas sector,” he said.
Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, mediated by the US, are advancing towards a potential agreement about the maritime border.
Mr Hariri was speaking immediately after a 40-minute meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department.
Asked by The National if the Trump administration made any demands from the Lebanese government relating to the alleged missile factories operated by Hezbollah in the country, Mr Hariri said talks on the subject were ongoing.
“The issue of the missile factories was discussed in the past and is now under discussion. It is an internal debate. There is a give and take [with the US],” he said.
Mr Hariri said his government was trying to “find the best way not to put Lebanon in danger” but insisted “we are not police for the Israelis”.
He mentioned recurring Israeli breaches of Lebanese airspace and called for a more balanced approach in addressing both sides of the equation.
But Mr Hariri also revealed his country may be open for a ceasefire with Israel.
“We are working in Lebanon in accordance with UN Resolution 1701, that’s built on cessation of hostilities,” he said.
“We want to move from cessation of hostilities to a ceasefire. For that to happen other things have to be implemented. They [Israel] have to implement a part and we have to do ours.”
He explained that any such mechanism would be under the UN.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was approved in 2006 and helped end the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel by unanimously mandating a cessation of hostilities.
Mr Hariri also said Lebanon was keen to conclude negotiations on the maritime border with Israel.
“This is vital and very important economically for Lebanon to allow oil and gas exploration. We are hoping for real progress in September. We know from the Americans that the Israelis are eager to reach a maritime agreement,” he said.
A deal would demarcate the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon, allowing oil and gas conglomerates to drill in a disputed zone in the Mediterranean.
But when asked about the elephant in the room when it comes to US-Lebanon relations and the issue of Hezbollah, Mr Hariri acknowledged the limitations his government faces when it comes to the issue of US sanctions on the group or its allies.
“We can’t change the US will on sanctions. They have laws and are pursuing them,” the Lebanese prime minister said.
“We are trying to shield Lebanon … we explained our view and we know our message was received.”
He said Lebanon was not told who the potential targets were. “We saw reports but nothing is tangible yet,” he said.
Over the past few months Washington has increased its pressure on Hezbollah and sanctioned its security official Wafiq Safa and MP Mohammad Raad in July.
The US has vowed to do more to squeeze Iran and its proxies across the region.
“Any name or entity that comes on US Ofac [the Office of Foreign Assets Control] list, we deal with it firmly to shield Lebanon,” Mr Hariri said.
He recounted Lebanon’s past efforts to absorb sanctions that
targeted the Lebanese Canadian Bank, people and entities accused of facilitating funds to Hezbollah.
Mr Hariri also said his government would “put scanners and cameras on ports and crossings and airports across Lebanon to avoid smuggling.”
He said the tone taken by US officials suggested they were encouraged by the performance of the Lebanese military and that aid would continue.
After being asked about relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, he said his government was “working with Saudi Arabia on 23 economic agreements and similarly with the UAE”. He said he hoped to attract Gulf investments.
Mr Hariri did not reveal if Lebanon’s efforts, led by the head of security Major General Abbas Ibrahim, to release western hostages from Iran and Syria were co-ordinated with the US or others.
“That requires secret communication. We won’t talk about it until it succeeds,” he said.
But Mr Hariri said he disagreed with Washington’s position on Palestine and Israel and a peace plan known as “the deal of the century”.
“We didn’t go to [the US ‘Peace to Prosperity’ workshop] in Bahrain and reject resettlement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,” he said.
On his US visit, Mr Hariri also met Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker and Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, Marshall Billingslea.