State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller indicated that while a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon is nearing completion, it has not yet been finalized. His statement came as reports surfaced suggesting that US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are preparing to announce a 60-day ceasefire on the northern border the following day.
“We have made significant progress towards a resolution,” Miller said. “That includes progress from where we were when I spoke to this last week, but we’re not done yet. Nothing is final until everything is final. We continue to work to try and get an agreement over the line. And we’re hopeful we can get one, but we need both of the parties to get to yes,” he explained during a press briefing.
When a reporter inquired about the number of times US officials have indicated that an agreement was near since late September, Miller responded, “I can tell you we are painfully aware, because this has been an incredibly frustrating process – both getting to a ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Lebanon and, also, the many rounds of negotiations to get a ceasefire in Gaza.”
He further elaborated, “There are any number of stages where we have hoped that the parties would get to an agreement. And remember, that’s what it requires in these cases – it’s not the United States, but the parties to the agreement to say yes. There have been many times when we thought we were going to be getting to yes in both cases, and for various reasons the parties didn’t get there.”
Miller concluded, “That said, we believe we are close here. But that’s why you heard me come out and say nothing’s final until everything is final, because we know we don’t have a deal until there is one that has been fully agreed to by both sides.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s security cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday to review the details of the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, which is intended to halt hostilities with the Hezbollah terror group. According to Israeli sources, a final draft of the agreement has been reached in advance of the cabinet discussion, and Israel has reportedly authorized American mediator Amos Hochstein to proceed with the agreement.
An Israeli official speaking to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News clarified that the ceasefire arrangement with Lebanon does not preclude Israel from resuming military action if necessary. “There is no end to the war here, there is a ceasefire that Israel will test on the ground,” the source stated.
{Matzav.com Israel}