The American mediator Amos Hookstein concluded his meetings and communications with Lebanese officials, with a politically significant stop yesterday in Naqoura where he met with UNIFIL leadership and then toured the blue line in an international helicopter along the land border between Lebanon and the occupied territories of Palestine. In the context of external movements towards Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahian arrived in Beirut yesterday, awaiting the return of the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian on the 11th of this month.
Sources following the diplomatic movement considered that the criticisms directed by French President Emmanuel Macron at Iran, accusing it of obstructing a solution in Lebanon, represent "an important development in French politics towards Lebanon." France received significant support yesterday in the Security Council through the vote to extend UNIFIL based on the French proposal with 13 votes in favor, while China and Russia abstained.
The sources highlighted that "the lesson is not in the abundance of envoys to Lebanon but in the positive results that emerge from them. What the Lebanese hope for is the resolution of the presidential file, and for the Iranian side to work on convincing Hezbollah to soften its position to allow for an agreement on a candidate that the majority of political forces can rally around," suggesting that the name of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun might be advancing over other names currently circulated.
In this context, former Minister Rashid Derbas estimated in a statement to the electronic newspaper "Anbaa" that Abdollahian's visit to Beirut is "a clear signal that the French envoy is bringing something serious and has some initiative," especially since Abdollahian recently visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the follow-up statement indicating a very positive meeting. Derbas noted that Abdollahian arriving in Lebanon before Le Drian means that there is something new he wishes to communicate to his allies, specifically Hezbollah. He stated that this would not have occurred without Macron's urging Iran to act and demonstrate good faith on the presidential file, asserting that "the presence of the Iranian minister in Beirut is, in one way or another, linked to Macron's speech, suggesting that Lebanon will witness a political breakthrough, even if it is still early to speak about any positives.”
Derbas considered that Hookstein successfully played a water game last year and wants to continue it with a land game, as Israel is preparing for something that may involve completing the construction of the separation wall or otherwise," borrowing the words of poet Mahmoud Darwish when bidding farewell to Abu Amar, "there is no land without a sea belonging to it, and no sea without land belonging to it."
In a related context, information for "Al-Jumhuriya" indicated that Hookstein met with the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Wassim Mansouri, away from the spotlight.
