Lebanon voices 'positive' progress on US-brokered ceasefire deal

Lebanon's caretaker Labour Minister Moustafa Bayram confirmed on Monday that his government had a "positive" stance on the latest US-brokered ceasefire deal, which is being studied in Beirut ahead of a possible visit by US envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein.

Bayram's comments followed a meeting with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally tasked with representing the group in ceasefire negotiations.

The minister said he was briefed on the details of the draft agreement, which was delivered last week to Speaker Berri.

"We will see whether the Israeli enemy will agree to a ceasefire or not," Bayram said, adding: "If [Israel] refuses, the world will bear witness that they seek nothing but killing and the elimination of others. In such case, we will have no option but to persevere [...].  Lebanon will not be overcome, no matter the odds.

"Lebanon is a victim of aggression... we adhere to international laws while Israel continues to break all international laws and resolutions," he added.

It was expected that Hochstein would arrive in Beirut on Tuesday to meet Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Berri, to hear Lebanon's response to the draft of the ceasefire deal. He would then travel to Israel to meet with officials there and finalise the ceasefire.

However, Axios reported on Monday that Hochstein had informed Berri his visit would not go ahead until Lebanon's position on the draft agreement was "clear".

Bayram stressed that the final response would come from Israel, which had previously conditioned any ceasefire agreement on retaining the freedom to conduct military actions in Lebanon whenever it deemed necessary - a condition firmly rejected by Beirut.

"We are all hopeful that by the end of the week, if there is no manoeuvring or bad faith as we have often experienced with the Israelis, we will reach a positive outcome," he added.

World powers say a Lebanon ceasefire must be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended a 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Its terms require Hezbollah to move weapons and fighters north of the Litani River, some 20 km (30 miles) north of the border.

The diplomacy has been complicated by an Israeli demand for the freedom to act should Hezbollah violate any agreement, which Lebanon has rejected as it would infringe on Lebanese sovereignty. 

Bayram reaffirmed his country's commitment to UN Resolution 1701 "without additions or omissions", and those points were dropped, adding that granting Israel any freedom of movement was "not even up for discussion".

What do we know about the deal in discussion?

While the details of the draft have not been made official, Berri told the Al-Modon news site on Saturday that there was room for "great optimism" in relation to the latest deal, stressing that the Americans were "very serious" this time.

He noted that US President-elect Donald Trump had given Hochstein the "green light" to pursue a deal to end the war, but highlighted that there were "some amendments" to the draft from the Lebanese side.

Berri said that one of the conditions in the deal related to the formation of an international committee to oversee the implementation of UNSC 1701. This committee would include representatives from Lebanon, Israel, the US, France and the United Nations. However, the draft expanded the committee to include Germany and the UK, which the Lebanese side had reportedly objected to.

Berri also stressed that there was "absolutely no room" to grant Israel free military action against Lebanon and once a ceasefire is reached, guarantees would be put in place to "halt Israeli attacks in Lebanon by land, sea or air".

"This is why we are seeking a ceasefire," he told the outlet. "Otherwise, what's the point of the agreement?"