Amos Hochstein is well aware that the statements he hears from Lebanese officials about implementing Resolution 1701 hold no practical value, as the state is absent in the area covered by the UN resolution. It lacks authority over the border region adjacent to the occupied territories, and the army's role in the frontline locations is almost limited to joint patrols with UNIFIL forces. Authority on the ground remains with Hezbollah, along with its civil institutions and military structure.
His discussions in Ain al-Tineh with President Nabih Berri are considered by some as indirect negotiations with Hezbollah, since the Speaker of the Parliament is the only Shiite interlocutor due to his close relationship with the party's leadership, especially with Hassan Nasrallah, the party's Secretary-General and the one who makes the final decision.
Hochstein has gained sufficient experience in dealing with Lebanese politicians, making him less reliant on official stances that often lack the ability to implement measures and the necessary will to confront challenges and overcome obstacles. Thus, his remarks during yesterday's visit focused on steps to de-escalate the volatile situation in the south and halt the recent escalation, reflecting Washington's desire to avoid sliding into an open war that could turn into a regional conflict, in which Lebanon could suffer significant losses given the current difficult circumstances, as Israelis might extend their operations beyond the south to some vital facilities.
However, what stands out from Hochstein's visit yesterday is his request to hold a meeting with opposition MPs, a new initiative and the first of its kind in his previous visits to Lebanon, which were limited to meetings with official officials such as Presidents Berri and Mikati, Foreign Minister Bou Habib, and General Abbas Ibrahim when he was the Director-General of General Security.
The meeting with opposition representatives clearly indicates an American interest in hearing the other perspective in the country, following the visit of the opposition parliamentary delegation to Washington a few months ago, initiated and coordinated by MP Fouad Makhzoumi, who held an extensive bilateral meeting with Hochstein in the White House during which he presented the opposition's demands for reform, the implementation of Resolution 1701, and keeping the country neutral from regional wars to preserve the remaining stability amid the economic crisis Lebanon is experiencing. Hochstein came carrying a threat and returned carrying a warning, according to “Al-Liwaa.”
