"A sovereign Lebanon and a demilitarised Hezbollah cannot happen without a credible political transition. Lebanese leaders have gone to Washington for the first direct negotiations with Israel in over 30 years, attempting to restore sovereignty under near-impossible terms."
"From Washington's perspective, the logic is easy enough to understand. Hezbollah is weaker, Tehran is under pressure, Damascus is amenable and the government in Beirut has never been more willing to accede to United States demands."
"No serious argument for Lebanese statehood can evade what Hezbollah has done; more than any other Lebanese actor, it has undermined the state's monopoly on force."
Lebanon's sovereignty cannot be achieved without a credible political transition. Recent negotiations with Israel aim to restore sovereignty under challenging conditions. A ceasefire deal requires Lebanon to assert its sovereignty, while Israel maintains military freedom in Lebanon. The U.S. sees a convergence where Israeli military actions could lead to a more manageable Lebanese state. However, Hezbollah's influence undermines state authority, complicating disarmament and sovereignty efforts. The current U.S. and Israeli approach does not provide a viable path to genuine Lebanese statehood.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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