House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Thursday received at the Second Presidency in Ain El-Tineh, the Senior Advisor to the US President, Amos Hochstein, and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Lebanon, Amanda Bales.

The meeting was also attended by Speaker Berri’s Media Advisor Ali Hamdan.

Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation in Lebanon and the region as a result of Israel’s continued aggression against the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Following the meeting that lasted for more than one hour, Hochstein stated: “It’s good to be back in Beirut. We are obviously at a difficult time and a time of urgency, and I am grateful that I have been able to have meetings with the Lebanese government and with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces – the LAF – to discuss how we can arrive at a diplomatic solution for the crisis on the border between Israel and Lebanon.

I was in Israel last week, and, as you saw, the President and Secretary Blinken and my
self have said we prefer a diplomatic solution to the current crisis. We had those discussions today, and I firmly believe that the people of Lebanon do not want to see an escalation of the current crisis to a further conflict. We need to find a diplomatic solution that will allow for the Lebanese people to return to their homes in South Lebanon and to go back to their normal lives, as the people of Israel need to be able to return to their homes in their north, to be able to live with security. That is the goal. I have had good discussions here with the government, and I am hopeful that we can continue to work this effort to arrive together, all of us on both sides of the border, with a solution that will allow for all people in Lebanon and Israel to live with guaranteed security and focus on a better future”

In response to a question whether he sensed a willingness from both sides to negotiate, Hochstein said: “I think you’ve all heard what the Government of Israel has said, which is that there is a narrow
window, but that they prefer a diplomatic solution. I think that is the case. We are living in a crisis moment where we would like to see a diplomatic solution, and I believe that both sides prefer a diplomatic solution. It is our job to get one.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon