As the escalation in Lebanon continues, many political efforts are seeking to reduce the escalation, amid hints that no one can pressure Israel, including its most prominent ally, Washington. So, what are the latest political developments in the Lebanese scene so far?
In this context, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today, Tuesday, calling for “holding an Arab and Islamic summit to stop the Israeli attacks on Lebanon.”
Alsumaria website quoted the Iraqi Foreign Ministry as saying, “The delegation of the Republic of Iraq, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, called for holding an Arab and Islamic summit aimed at stopping the Israeli entity’s aggression against Lebanon.”
The statement added: “Iraq submitted this proposal during the Arab League meeting at the ministerial level held in New York on Monday, September 23, 2024, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.”
Yesterday, Monday, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, announced the “establishment of two air and land bridges to send aid to Lebanon.”
In addition, “Washington sent a message to the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, and the Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, stating that the doors of diplomacy have been closed and there is no longer room for any negotiations.”
According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, “Mikati received American communications that ‘Washington is no longer able to control the Israelis and there is no room to do anything.’”
Informed sources believe that “the recent developments will impose an amendment to the agenda, as it is expected that French mediation will be proposed.”
The newspaper revealed that “American, Arab and European messages arrived yesterday in large numbers to Berri, Mikati and even Hezbollah, which included a clear and direct Israeli request to close the support front as an entry point to stop the escalation.” According to the newspaper, “these messages carried veiled threats that ‘no one will be able to pressure Israel if Hezbollah does not accept to retreat.’”
Yesterday, it was announced that “Turkey and Qatar have entered into direct mediation with Hezbollah,” and the sources said that “a delegation from the two countries will arrive in Beirut today, carrying a self-initiative that does not include any guarantees from Israel.”
The sources said, “The messages intersect around one point, which is that Israel wants to create a buffer zone with no people or stones, 10 kilometers deep, and it will not back down from that, and that the only solution is to return to implementing Resolution 1701 with the concessions that Israel is requesting, and any refusal will only be met with more strikes and escalation.”
In addition, Haaretz newspaper reported that “the US administration is trying to prevent Iran from directly participating in the fighting.”
US President Joe Biden said: “We are working to contain the escalation,” and indicated that the United States “will do everything it can to avoid a wider war.”
In this context, the UAE expressed its “deep concern over the attacks launched by Israel on southern Lebanon, as well as the continued escalation and its repercussions on security and stability in the region.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in a statement on Tuesday for “the need for concerted international efforts to stop the fighting to prevent bloodshed, and for civilians to enjoy full protection under international law and international treaties.”
She stressed “the UAE’s firm position in rejecting violence, escalation, and reckless actions and reactions, without the slightest regard for the laws governing relations and sovereignty of states, which complicate the situation and increase the risks of instability,” stressing “the need to resolve disputes through diplomatic means, away from the language of confrontation and escalation.”
Saudi Arabia confirmed that it is following with “great concern” the developments in Lebanon, and it renewed its warning of “the danger of the spread of violence in the region,” with nearly 500 people killed in this country as a result of hundreds of Israeli raids.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that it “is following with great concern the developments of the security events taking place in Lebanese territory, and renews its warning of the danger of the expansion of violence in the region,” and urged “all parties to exercise the utmost degree of self-restraint and to keep the region and its people away from the dangers of war.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned “the indiscriminate attacks carried out by Israeli forces on Lebanese territory,” stressing “China’s strong and steadfast support for Lebanon in preserving its sovereignty.”
“China firmly supports Lebanon in maintaining its sovereignty, security and national dignity,” Wang was quoted as saying by Xinhua during his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdullah Bou Habib, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Wang added: “Within the framework of the long-standing traditional friendship between China and Lebanon, Beijing is closely following the latest developments in the region, especially the recent Israeli bombings of wireless communication devices across Lebanon, and strongly opposes these indiscriminate attacks against civilians.”
In the context, the Emirati company “Fly Dubai” and Qatar Airways announced the suspension of their flights to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, until tomorrow, Wednesday.
Hundreds of Israeli raids on several areas in Lebanon left 492 dead, including 35 children, in the most violent airstrike ever.
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2024-09-26 18:11:24