Lebanon Rejects Israeli Proposal for NGO-Led Ceasefire Monitoring

Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel remain stalled amid disagreements over the terms set by Israel and reservations raised by Beirut, according to media reports.

“Progress remains on hold pending greater clarity over the Israeli political landscape following the elections,” Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Monday.

The latest round of talks in Tampa also exposed differences over who should oversee the ceasefire and monitor designated pilot zones, the newspaper said.

According to the report, Israel proposed assigning the monitoring mission to a non-governmental organization rather than deploying forces from European or African countries, a proposal Lebanon rejected.

The Israeli delegation, in turn, rejected the countries put forward by the Lebanese side, Nidaa al-Watan reported.

Beirut viewed the proposed involvement of an NGO as an infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and an unprecedented arrangement, the newspaper added.