The American Paper: 13 Points Including “Self-Defense”

Diplomatic sources in Beirut told Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that the American paper Lebanon received, aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hezbollah in the south, consists of about 13 points, the most controversial being the clause granting both sides the “right to self-defense.” Lebanon fears that this clause could turn into “freedom of movement” sought by Tel Aviv, which Beirut has rejected.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri denied to Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that the American ceasefire proposal contains any provisions for Israeli military freedom of movement in Lebanon. He affirmed that Americans and others know such a provision is unacceptable and that it cannot even be discussed as a matter of principle, emphasizing, “We cannot accept any infringement of our sovereignty.” Berri also denied that the proposal includes the deployment of NATO or any other forces in Lebanon. He revealed that the proposal includes a “Lebanon-unacceptable” clause calling for the establishment of a supervisory committee for implementing Resolution 1701, including several Western countries.

With the expansion of battles in Lebanon, where Israel is attempting to control a 9-kilometer coastal stretch, Israel has once again struck the Mazzeh neighborhood in Damascus. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Russia is pursuing a “tension management” policy to prevent Syria from being dragged into a regional war.