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3. Europe Closely Monitoring Israel’s Feb 18 Withdrawal Deadline

The new US administration’s rigorous way of handling foreign affairs was reaffirmed by US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who openly called for excluding Hezbollah from the next Lebanese government while applauding its defeat at Israel’s hand.

The approach that is bound to alienate and provoke Lebanon’s Shiite community is not welcomed by the European Union, notably France, which was quick to call for an encompassing government representative of Lebanon’s factions and communities.

According to informed sources, Europe is “not in favor” of a US approach alienating the Shiite community, which they consider part and parcel of the Lebanese social and political fabric, though they support the full application of Resolution 1701, which also implicates Hezbollah’s disarmament and exclusive state control of national territory.

Major European countries contributing UNIFIL contingents are also closely monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, notably Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon by February 18, amid concerns that Tel Aviv, backed by Washington, would want to delay the withdrawal or maintain a number of monitoring positions inside Lebanese territory.

Ortagus’ comment on Washington’s commitment to the “redeployment” of Israeli troops on deadline, which could be interpreted as an incomplete withdrawal, further aggravated concerns that Hezbollah would incite southerners to try to force their way into border villages facing the Israeli Army, in a repetition of the bloody Sunday of January 26, in which 22 people were killed and dozens injured in Israeli fire.