Text: Draft Lebanon-Israel Agreement USA has "soft veto" on Israeli

Text: Draft Lebanon-Israel Agreement USA has “soft veto” on Israeli actions
Dr. Aaron Lerner 30 October 2024

Below are some excerpts from the draft agreement between Lebanon and Israel
as posted today by KANN
https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan-news/politic/818729/
A pdf with the texts appears in
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JaggSvcvapg8l1cgmqVzIlvf-h8z-ZqA/view?pli=1

The draft agreement, paragraph 14 only relates to an area below some line
with paragraph 18 describing possibly eternal negotiations about clearing
out Hezbollah weapons from above the line.

Please note the opening of Main Elements of the Side Letter Between the U.S,
and Israel paragraph 7 : ” While recognizing that it is in Israel’s interest
to enable the IMEM to effectively address violations, and for UNSCR 1701 to
be fully implemented, the United States also recognizes Israel may choose to
act against violations of the Commitments in the event all other efforts to
address those violations consistent with paragraphs [3 through 6] above have
failed. The United States understands that Israel’s policies regarding
responding to threats from the territory of Lebanon when such other efforts
have failed will be as follows:”

The “when such other efforts have failed” opens the opportunity for a
debating society of years before the U.S. is ok with Israel acting.

Please take note of the wording of Paragraph 7d “Israeli strikes in
self-defense as outlined in 7a through 7c above will be [discussed][taken
only after consultation] with the United States and at all times will avoid
civilian casualties and civilian infrastructure to the maximum extent
possible.”

While “taken only after consultation” with the United States doesn’t
necessarily give the USA a full veto on Israeli action, it does provide the
USA with the opportunity to follow its practice of leaking our plans!

####
Text: Draft Lebanon-Israel Agreement

DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
10/26/2024 1:27 PM
Announcement of a Cessation of Hostilities and Related Commitments on
Enhanced Security Arrangements and Toward the Implementation of UNSCR1701

14. During initial 60-day implementation period, Lebanon will dismantle and
confiscate all military assets, arms, and infrastructure of all non-state
armed groups south of the line in Annex A[, and [report][engage] with the
IMEM on such confiscated materiel as described in Annex B.].

16. Israel and Lebanon request that, immediately at the conclusion of the
initial 60-day implementation period, the United States, with the
partnership of the United Nations and the international community,
facilitate indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon with the
objective of reaching full implementation of UNSCR 1701 and resolving the
outstanding disputed points on the Blue Line.

Main Elements of the Side Letter Between the U.S, and Israel

3) As described in the Commitments the United States is prepared to chair
the Independent Monitoring and Enforcement Mechanism (IMEM), and to
designate a senior officer of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and a senior
national security official to serve in that role.

4) The United States, as chair of the IMEM, expects to lead and guide the
IMEM to support Lebanon’s state security forces in effectively addressing
violations of the Commitments.

5) Israel and the United States intend to share, through appropriate
channels, sensitive intelligence relating to violations or suspected
violations of the Commitments, including any infiltration by Hezbollah or
other non-state armed groups into the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The
United States may, with Israel’s consent, share information provided by
Israel with mutually determined third parties (the Lebanese Government
and/or the IMEM) to enable them to address the violation.

6) The United States reaffirms its commitment to work with Israel and other
partners to confront Iran’s destabilizing activities in Lebanon [through
appropriate means], including to prevent Iran, its proxies, and others from
working to undermine the implementation of the Commitment.

7 ) While recognizing that it is in Israel’s interest to enable the IMEM to
effectively address violations, and for UNSCR 1701 to be fully implemented,
the United States also recognizes Israel may choose to act against
violations of the Commitments in the event all other efforts to address
those violations consistent with paragraphs [3 through 6] above have failed.
The United States understands that Israel’s policies regarding responding to
threats from the territory of Lebanon when such other efforts have failed
will be as follows:

a) In the area identified in Annex A of the Commitments, Israel retains the
right to act in self-defense against imminent threats to Israel.

b) Threats emanating from near the border will be addressed with greatest
urgency.

c) Outside the area identified in Annex A of the Commitments, Israel retains
the right to act in self-defense against developing threats, should the
Government of Lebanon and the IMEM fail to avert or address them. Such
threats include the production, storage, or transportation of heavy
weaponry; ballistic, medium-, and long- range missiles; and other advanced
weaponry.

d) Israeli strikes in self-defense as outlined in 7a through 7c above will
be [discussed][taken only after consultation] with the United States and at
all times will avoid civilian casualties and civilian infrastructure to the
maximum extent possible.

e) Israeli flights over Lebanon will be for purposes of intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance only, and will not be visible to the naked
eye to the degree possible. Israeli flights will not break the sound barrier
to the civilian population of Lebanon. Any flights over Lebanon for purposes
of defensive military operations against imminent or developing threats will
only be conducted when necessary and consistent with the subparagraphs
above.

________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Source: https://www.imra.org.il/story.php?id=74267