US official: Joint call for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon ‘significant breakthrough’
After US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron issued a statement calling for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in order to reach a political settlement, US officials expressed optimism, saying: “We expect this to happen within hours,” according to Israel’s Channel 13.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot revealed during an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday a joint proposal with the United States to establish a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon.
“In recent days, we have worked with our American partners on a temporary ceasefire… for 21 days to allow for negotiations,” Barrow said during the session, which was held at his country’s request.
He added that this proposal “will be announced quickly and we are counting on both parties accepting it.”
The French minister stressed that the outbreak of a comprehensive war between Israel and Hezbollah is “not inevitable,” calling on all parties to engage “firmly” in a peaceful solution to the conflict.
This French-American initiative came after intensive discussions held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and after a bilateral meeting between Biden and Macron.
The White House announced that Biden met with Macron in New York “to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire Between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah and prevent a wider war.”
“We call for broad approval and immediate support from the governments of Israel and Lebanon” for the content of the joint appeal, the two presidents said in a statement issued at the end of their meeting.
Important breakthrough
A senior US official said the joint appeal by the United States and several other countries for an immediate, temporary ceasefire in Lebanon represented an “important breakthrough.”
The official told reporters, commenting on the statement, that Washington hopes that this appeal will also “spur” efforts to reach a truce and release the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
“This is an important breakthrough with regard to Lebanon, given everything that has happened there,” he added.
In turn, a second American official said that Washington expects Lebanon and Israel to decide “within hours” whether they accept to respond to this call.
“We had this conversation with the parties and we felt this was the right moment” to release it, he added.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri revealed in a press statement that he is making “serious efforts” with international parties, including the United States, to curb the recent Israeli escalation against Lebanon. He said on Wednesday that the next 24 hours will be “decisive” in the success or failure of these efforts in reaching political solutions to the crisis.
Israel expanded its air strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 72 people, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese Health Ministry data. The ministry earlier said at least 223 people were wounded.
The Israeli military’s chief of staff said a ground attack was possible, raising fears that the conflict could ignite a wider war in the Middle East.
The senior White House official said that Washington had been communicating with officials in Israel and Lebanon over the past few months to reduce hostilities.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s UN Security Council meeting that Israel would welcome a ceasefire and favor a diplomatic solution. He then told the Security Council that Iran was the linchpin of violence in the region and that peace required dismantling the threat.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters before the council meeting that his country supports Hezbollah and will not remain indifferent if the conflict in Lebanon escalates.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire call, saying the key to its implementation was whether Israel was committed to implementing international resolutions. Asked earlier if a ceasefire could be reached soon, Mikati told Reuters: “I hope it is possible.”
World leaders have expressed concern that the conflict – which runs parallel to Israel’s war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants who are also backed by Iran – is escalating rapidly as the death toll in Lebanon rises and thousands flee their homes.
