As the war between Israel and Hezbollah enters its second month in a few days, field events paint extremely dangerous facts regarding the Israeli incursion and expansion of what Israel calls the “buffer zone” with American cover.
At the same time, international efforts to restrain Israel and establish a ceasefire in order to begin a negotiating path demanded by Lebanon and rejected by Israel are faltering. Dr. Mohieddin Shehimi, advisor to the European Commission, reveals that international efforts to cease fire in Lebanon are continuing, but they have taken secret paths far from the media.
Dr. Shehimi stresses that these initiatives face a major obstacle, which is the Lebanese state’s ability to commit and implement, which is a point that the international community focuses on in any serious action.
Shehimi explains that despite the “bold” decisions taken by the Lebanese authorities in recent months, their implementation on the ground remained limited, which created a clear gap between texts and implementation. This discrepancy, especially with regard to the issue of restricting weapons and preventing military activity outside the authority of the state, undermined international confidence in Lebanon’s ability to fulfill its obligations.
Therefore, Chehimi believes that what is known as the “Group of Five” and the countries friendly to Lebanon tried to take into account the Lebanese internal situation and gave Beirut a deadline to prove its seriousness in implementing international resolutions, but this consideration gradually diminished, especially after the field connection between the Lebanese situation and regional developments increased, which made the actual decision outside state institutions.
In this context, Shehimi confirms that international movements are currently limited to the humanitarian aspect, in the absence of any applicable political initiative, as the international community will not participate effectively in the truce efforts before the Lebanese state shows a real ability to control its sovereign decision.
Shehimi concludes his speech by expressing his regret that Lebanon today is in a more isolated position from Iran, as any ceasefire seems linked to broader regional understandings, while the Lebanese situation remains vulnerable to escalation, in the absence of a decisive role for the state.
