Draft Declaration of Intent for Negotiations Between Beirut and Tel Aviv: "Lebanon's Sovereignty and Israel's Security"

SadaNews - The Lebanese newspaper Al-Mudun reported today, Saturday, that it obtained a preliminary draft of what it described as the items discussed during the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, sponsored and supported by the United States. It noted that the discussions addressed files beyond the issue of stopping the war and withdrawal, including the future of southern Lebanon, the status of the Lebanese army, reconstruction, the return of displaced persons, and the future relationship between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

According to the report, Israel, with the support of the United States, proposed during the negotiations conditions and guarantees related to the security situation in southern Lebanon, the future of Hezbollah's weapons, along with arrangements related to the deployment and role of the Lebanese army, while the files of reconstruction and the return of displaced persons were linked to direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

The newspaper indicated that the United States and Israel attended as key partners in shaping the proposed arrangements related to southern Lebanon, confirming that the circulating draft has not been officially announced, but it may be close to the statement issued by the U.S. State Department following previous rounds of negotiations, which Israel later relied on to justify its military operations against Lebanon.

According to what the newspaper published, the circulating text comes in the form of a "Declaration of Intent" between Israel and Lebanon, containing the following items as stated in the draft:

1- The governments of the State of Israel and the Lebanese Republic, with support from the United States under President Donald Trump's leadership, affirm their joint commitment to achieving a comprehensive agreement that ends the conflict between them and establishes stable and peaceful relations between the two countries, while restoring complete Lebanese sovereignty over all Lebanese territories.

2- Israel and Lebanon affirm the right of each state to live in peace and security within its internationally recognized borders. The two countries declare their intention to work towards a comprehensive and complete agreement.

3- Israel affirms its full respect for the territorial integrity of Lebanon and Lebanon's sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, and commits to withdrawing from all Lebanese territories and abandoning any aspirations for regional expansion.

4- Lebanon reaffirms its firm and steadfast commitment to restore and exercise full sovereignty over all its territories, maintain the state's monopoly on the use of force, and ensure that the Lebanese armed forces bear full responsibility for Lebanon's sovereignty and defense, with no role for non-state armed groups in any military or security capacity anywhere in Lebanon.

5- The Israeli Defense Forces will hand over all occupied Lebanese territories to the Lebanese armed forces, which will assume full security responsibility, coinciding with reconstruction efforts, so that returned displaced Lebanese citizens can return safely to a reconstructed southern Lebanon, under the full sovereignty of the Lebanese state, in a manner that poses no threat to Israel. The two countries, with support from the United States, will agree on practical models and timelines for this process.

6- The United States and its international partners will support a program to train and equip the Lebanese army aimed at enhancing the authority of the Lebanese state. This initiative will also help cement the control of the Lebanese state over all its territories through the development of a professional and capable Lebanese armed forces. This effort will enable the safe and organized return to territories under full Lebanese sovereignty and the return of displaced citizens to their lands, contributing to lasting security and stability in the Middle East.

7- The two countries acknowledge that the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon "UNIFIL" will end on December 31, 2026, as decided by the United Nations Security Council, without any further extensions or renewals. The Secretary-General of the United Nations will explore, by June 1, 2026, options for security assistance and monitoring after the withdrawal of "UNIFIL".

8- Separately, the United States will gather international partners to support the Lebanese government in rebuilding the country, reforming infrastructure, restoring the economy, and creating opportunities for prosperity. This will include mobilizing significant humanitarian aid, programs for reconstruction and economic recovery, and investment initiatives that enable Lebanon to recover from years of conflict and provide a better future for all its citizens.

9- To achieve these goals, the two governments will conduct direct negotiations facilitated by the United States.

10- The two governments commit to moving forward in good faith until a comprehensive agreement is reached that brings security, stability, and prosperity to the people of Israel and Lebanon.

The newspaper added that this "Declaration of Intent," according to the circulating draft, represents "a meaningful step towards ending the suffering of the Lebanese people, restoring Lebanon's full control over its territory, and providing lasting security for the people of Israel," noting that the text resulted from "direct dialogue facilitated and actively sponsored by the United States under President Donald Trump's leadership."