Lebanese PM speaks to UN official to seek Israel peace deal

Lebanese Prime Minster Najib Mikati spoke to a senior United Nations official on January 9 in an attempt to achieve a peace deal with neighbouring Israel, according to Reuters.

The caretaker head met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix in Beirut to stress, “Lebanon’s readiness to enter negotiations to achieve a long-term process of stability in southern Lebanon” it was said in a statement from the Prime Minister’s office. 

The frustrated Mikati also affirmed, “The position I repeat to these (UN) delegates is: Do you support the idea of destruction? Is what is happening in Gaza acceptable?” 

Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza has sparked fears that  tensions could broaden and since October 7 over a hundred people have been killed due to cross-border skirmishes. Most killed were fighters from Iran-backed Lebanese militants Hezbollah. 

READ: Hezbollah says Lebanon deaths by Israel will be avenged

As a result of the clashes, research from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) found that 75,000 people living at the Lebanese Israeli border were displaced

Hezbollah said it was not seeking a war with its neighbours but noted that if Israel went on the offensive, the militants wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate. 

Netanyahu has sent out a harsh warning to Lebanon, threatening that Israel would take matters into its own hands if Hezbollah refused to retreat to the Litani River. 

Although Lebanon’s Prime Minister had made a lot about peace talks, he did not specify what these would entail. 

It is believed that since Israel’s assault of Gaza, Lebanese forces have been targeted on 34 occasions. 

Reuters