Lebanon is preparing for the return of intense Arab and international diplomatic activity at the start of the new year, which will focus on two main topics: first, restoring calm to the southern borders and beginning discussions to resolve the land border issue; and second, intensifying efforts, along with pressure, to expedite the election of a new president for the republic.
According to information obtained by Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-Anbaa," "Qatari diplomatic efforts will not be delayed, and will accompany the French initiative under the framework of the Arab and international quintet committee to find common ground regarding the presidential file, similar to what happened in the legislative session that produced the extension law for military and security leaders, through encouraging bilateral dialogues that have proven to be the most effective for securing broad understandings."
Based on information, it appears that "French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian will not delay his return to Lebanon as a representative of the quintet committee, with a visit expected in the middle of next month. The focus of the discussions will be on ways to resolve tensions on the southern borders by applying UN resolution 1701 and continuing the presidential file from the point it reached during his previous visit, particularly exploring the third option."
It was reported that "Amos Hochstein, senior advisor to the White House on energy affairs, is preparing to return to Lebanon, following the formal arrangements completed by the new American ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, who has conducted a tour of Lebanese leaders. Given her previous service at her country’s embassy in Beirut, she is familiar with most of them. Hochstein will renew his mediation initiated during his last visit to reach a ceasefire, which focuses on enforcing calm on both sides of the southern border, and returning to the meetings of the tripartite military committee that includes representatives from Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations, with American facilitation. This committee meets at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura to continue discussions on the thirteen disputed land points and Israel's withdrawal from the northern part of Ghajar, amid American desires not to expand the confrontation between Lebanon and Israel, especially since Hochstein has made continuous efforts in the past leading to the agreement on maritime delineation that was supposed to ensure security and stability along the borders for many years."
The information indicated that "Hochstein will discuss the presidential file from the perspective of Lebanon's urgent need to elect a new president and form a new government, as the ongoing war in Gaza, which extends to Lebanon and reaches the Red Sea, will inevitably end with negotiations based on the Madrid reference. Therefore, Lebanon's constitutional institutions must be complete to participate in these negotiations instead of being absent and allowing others to decide on its concerns."
In this context, "Western messages to Lebanon continue, warning against being dragged into a wide-ranging war with Israel, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems intent on pursuing this war, believing that the United States will not remain neutral. Consequently, he aims to draw Washington into a devastating war against Lebanon. The more dangerous aspect is that all international efforts to persuade Netanyahu not to implement his plan to attack Lebanon have fallen on deaf ears, necessitating that Lebanon avoid being provoked by the deliberate escalation employed by Netanyahu, who has expanded his military engagement to a depth exceeding thirty kilometers."
