Secret Clauses in Ceasefire Agreement.. Binding Hezbollah to Military Withdrawal

Secret Clauses in Ceasefire Agreement.. Binding Hezbollah to Military Withdrawal
The agreement represents a strategic shift in the region beyond security dimensions to establish a new phase in Lebanese-Israeli relations under international supervision
November 28, 2024, 9:51 pm

جنوب لبنان

Lebanon enters a new historic phase with the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, as the agreement goes beyond merely stopping military operations to include fundamental changes in Lebanon's political and security landscape.

A Western diplomatic source revealed that the agreement contains undeclared clauses beyond the thirteen announced points, including guarantees and procedures under the responsibility of the United States, which will chair the committee overseeing its implementation.

The agreement includes implementing UN Resolution 1701 in its entirety, along with Resolutions 1559 and 1680, in three phases beginning with security and border arrangements within 60 days, followed by restoring authority in Lebanon through presidential elections and forming a new government.

The source disclosed Lebanon's commitment that Hezbollah has abandoned the principle of unified fronts, confirming that no weapons will be allowed into Lebanon except for the Lebanese army, which will end the party's military presence south of the Litani River according to the so-called "Line 2024."

The new phase is characterized by direct American supervision of the agreement's implementation, granting Israel freedom to counter weapons smuggling from Syria to Lebanon, while the Lebanese army commits to dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure, with expanded UNIFIL tasks.

The agreement carries strategic significance with Hezbollah's implicit recognition of Israel, as its introduction explicitly referred to "the governments of the Lebanese Republic and the State of Israel," with both parties committing to implementing international resolutions stipulating weapons exclusivity to official institutions.

Implementation procedures include forming a Lebanese technical military committee headed by a U.S. Central Command officer, with establishments in Lebanon and Israel to monitor the agreement's implementation and investigate potential violations.

Reconstruction in border areas will be subject to UNIFIL and Lebanese official authorities' monitoring to ensure facilities aren't used for military purposes, while Israel retains the right to determine residents' return timing based on security conditions.

The plan emphasizes tracking Hezbollah's funding sources, with Lebanon pledging to close illegal crossings with Syria and the "Al-Qard Al-Hassan" institution, while the United States and other countries prepare to pursue major depositors in the institution.

Analysts view the agreement as placing Lebanon at a crucial turning point, potentially offering an opportunity to restore Lebanese legitimacy, but facing challenges amid internal political divisions and the need to reactivate constitutional institutions.

Levant-Agencies

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