After months of tension, bombings and a constantly threatened truce, they have taken a new step towards de-escalation. The delegations of both countries meeting in Washington agreed this Wednesday to implement a ceasefire, although with a condition that may be decisive for its future: that Hezbollah completely stop its attacks against Israeli territory and abandon its positions in the south of the country.
The agreement was reached with the mediation of the United States during the fourth round of negotiations held this year between both parties.
The demand that changes everything
According to the joint statement released after the meeting, the ceasefire will be conditional on the “total cessation of shooting” and the withdrawal of all its operations from the area covered by between the Litani River and the border with Israel.
This is precisely the area where the Shiite militia It maintains a greater presence and from where many of the attacks that have fueled the conflict in recent months have occurred.
The condition converts to Hezbollah in the centerpiece of an agreement that, for now, has the support of the Israeli and Lebanese governments, but whose practical application will depend on an actor that rejects negotiations.
Areas without Hezbollah
One of the most relevant points of the pact is the creation of the so-called “pilot zones.”
These areas would remain under the exclusive control of the Lebanese Armed Forces and would exclude the presence of any non-state armed group, a direct reference to Hezbollah.
Washington believes that this model can serve as a first step toward a broader stability and security agreement for the entire border region.
A process with ups and downs
The talks between Israel and Lebanon began on April 14 and marked the highest-level political contact between both countries since 1993. Although previous rounds allowed successive truces to be approved and extended, the situation on the ground has remained extremely fragile.
Israel has on several occasions intensified its military operations in Lebanese territory, claiming that it was responding to attacks launched by Hezbollah, while the militia has maintained its outright rejection of any negotiations.
Next appointment: June 22
Despite the difficulties, both delegations have agreed to meet again in Washington on June 22. The objective is to move towards what the statement defines as a “comprehensive peace and security agreement.”
For now, the feeling is that there is a roadmap. But also that the success of the plan will depend on a question that remains unanswered: whether Hezbollah is willing to accept the conditions that Israel, Lebanon and the United States consider essential to consolidate the truce.
