Last week, the US envoy for Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, attended a session of the committee established to monitor the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire put in place almost a year ago. Ms Ortagus brought with her a proposal for how negotiations between the Lebanese and Israelis could proceed.
The ceasefire expanded the so-called Mechanism put in place after the July 2006 war. This is a co-ordination committee to supervise implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The ceasefire agreement added two new members – the US and France – to the tripartite format of Lebanon, Israel and Unifil, the UN force in southern Lebanon, that had been in place, with the US now presiding.
The Mechanism is made up mainly of military representatives, but the US and Israel want to widen this to include civilian representation. Ideally, both countries would like to lock Lebanon into a normalisation process with Israel, something the Lebanese reject for now. Their preference is for indirect negotiations, through the Americans, which is how Lebanon and Israel delineated their maritime border in October 2022.
Last March, Axios reported that Lebanon and Israel would soon establish working groups that would be “led by diplomats from the US, Israel and Lebanon” to address outstanding issues – demarcating the Lebanon-Israel land border, securing the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel and agreeing conditions for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese areas it occupies. US officials were cited in the story.
On the Lebanese side, however, this was news. Lebanon had not agreed to participate in working groups headed by diplomats. According to Lebanese media reports, two months ago, Ron Dermer, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister, asked the UN representative in Lebanon to convey to the Lebanese a proposal for direct talks. Their answer was the same: Lebanon would negotiate only through the Mechanism.
On her latest trip to Lebanon, Ms Ortagus floated a compromise. She asked the Lebanese to add civilians to the military team participating in the Mechanism. This came shortly after President Joseph Aoun, talking about the Gaza ceasefire deal on October 13, had said: “The general atmosphere today is one of settlements, therefore it is necessary to negotiate [with Israel]; as for the form of the negotiation, this will be determined at the [proper] time.”
Facing mounting pressure, including escalating Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, senior Lebanese officials are said to have reached agreement on a median proposal: they would be willing to expand the military delegation to include civilians, who would participate in discussions on certain matters principally as technical advisers.
Lebanon has a narrow domestic margin of manoeuvre on the negotiating front. Faced with a Hezbollah refusal to speak directly with the Israelis, and similar opposition from Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Mr Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have to thread a needle: liberating Lebanese land while not clashing with the Shiite parties, keeping the Americans onside and avoiding war with Israel.
The real question is whether the Israelis and Americans will accept the Lebanese compromise. From Lebanon’s perspective, the idea of having civilians advise military personnel harks back to the 1949 armistice agreement with Israel, when civilian technical advisers were used. What Hezbollah and Mr Berri oppose, however, is a format similar to the one that led to the May 17, 1983 Lebanon-Israel withdrawal agreement, when the Lebanese team was led by a retired diplomat.
For Lebanon, the idea of having civilians advise military personnel harks back to the 1949 armistice agreement with Israel, when civilian technical advisers were used
For Mr Berri, who at the time was an ally of Syria, the 1983 agreement was tantamount to a peace accord with Israel, making it unacceptable. It was and it wasn’t. The agreement stipulated that each country would not to be used as a base for hostile actions against the other and Lebanon agreed to set up a security region in the south in which Beirut would accept security arrangements. But it did not establish diplomatic ties, even if it set up a committee to address “the development of mutual relations”.
More important from Lebanon’s perspective at the time, the agreement created conditions for a full Israeli withdrawal from the country. Mr Aoun’s recent remarks showed he is aware that such an equation holds today, namely that Israel will demand a price for pulling its forces out of the south. The question is what?
Complicating matters is that Hezbollah, and above all Iran, are not willing to give anything up in Lebanon unless, or until, they receive something in exchange. Hezbollah’s inflexibility on surrendering its weapons is very much an effort to ensure Iran does not lose a valuable regional political card – one Tehran will try to use in negotiations with the Americans, but also with the Lebanese.
The only problem with this thinking is that the Israelis have no intention of granting Iran such latitude. This makes it more likely that, even if a new Israeli onslaught on Lebanon may not be imminent, further deadlock down the road in disarming Hezbollah will probably lead to a resumption of the war. The outcome of such a conflict would almost certainly be further Hezbollah concessions.
Why reach that stage? If Lebanon can derail a war by engaging the Israelis in talks on the land border, prisoners and an Israeli withdrawal, then it must consider this option. An end to cross-border conflict and security arrangements with Israel are not a peace deal, and no one ever accused Lebanon of making peace when they signed the armistice agreement. Any step that can restore that agreement, or an updated version of it, should be welcomed.
Whether it’s an officer or a civilian negotiating is irrelevant.
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The view from The National
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
The bio:
Favourite holiday destination: I really enjoyed Sri Lanka and Vietnam but my dream destination is the Maldives.
Favourite food: My mum’s Chinese cooking.
Favourite film: Robocop, followed by The Terminator.
Hobbies: Off-roading, scuba diving, playing squash and going to the gym.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
POWERWASH%20SIMULATOR
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
ENGLAND SQUAD
Joe Root (captain), Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
if you go
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
MORE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
