Lebanon says ready to hold talks for long-term stability on border with Israel

BEIRUT

Lebanon is ready to hold talks for long-term stability on its border with Israel, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Tuesday.

Mikati held talks in Beirut with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, according to a Cabinet statement.

“Lebanon is ready to enter negotiations to achieve a long-term process of stability in southern Lebanon” along the border with Israel, the statement said.

Mikati said Lebanon is committed to implementing UN resolutions, including Resolution 1701, which calls for a complete cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.

Adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, the resolution calls for Israel to withdraw behind the Blue Line and disarmament of the region between this line and the Litani River in Lebanon, allowing only the Lebanese army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to possess weapons and military equipment in the area.

On Monday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib said his country is ready to "fully" implement UN Resolution 1701 in return for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese lands and halting violations of the country’s sovereignty.

Lacroix, for his part, called on all parties to cease hostilities, support the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and continue close cooperation between the army and UNIFIL.

Tensions have escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel since the Israeli army launched a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, amid an exchange of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Ankara