RAMALLAH: The Israeli Foreign Ministry is considering an initiative aimed at reaching a long-term nonbelligerence pact with Lebanon to prevent renewed fighting along the northern border, a report said yesterday.
The Israeli daily Haaretz said that the initiative was first revealed two weeks ago during a strategic discussion over the future of the Middle East peace process that was held as part of the ministry’s evaluation of regional developments.
The evaluation is the first of its kind, and was initiated by ministry director-general Aharon Abramovich, and later supported by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
According to the report, Livni’s close advisers and senior ministry officials participated in the discussion. Given the officials’ close relationship with Livni, the evaluation’s recommendations are likely to turn into official policy should she succeed in forming a government.
Eran Etzion, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s political planning section, said a full peace agreement with Lebanon can only come in the wake of a similar deal with Syria. Still, he said, Israel can try to advance on a separate political track with Lebanon, the end result of which could be a long-term non-belligerence pact. The agreement would be signed by both governments, and its focus would be a reciprocal agreement on the route of the border between the two countries. The deal would include a solution to the dispute over the Sheb’a Farms border area and the divided village of Ghajar, as well as a number of small border adjustments demanded by Lebanon. The recommendation would provide for a coordination apparatus between the Israel Defense Forces and the Lebanese army, as well as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) over border patrols and other monitoring activities.
Israel is expected to ask Lebanon to significantly reduce Hezbollah’s weapons stores, and to extend the Lebanese army’s authority across the entire country, with a special emphasis on the area south of the Litani River, which is the closest area to Israel. In return, an agreement would have to be reached over Israeli overflights in Lebanese airspace.
