Nabih Berri, Lebanese Parliamentary Speaker, and the man Hezbollah has entrusted to negotiate a ceasefire on their behalf, said today (Wednesday) that "the ball is in Netanyahu's court" and that "we will not change a single letter in Resolution 1701."
Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to advance ceasefire negotiations following a closed meeting in which defense officials argued unanimously that the IDF is close to achieving its objectives in Lebanon and that the time has come to convert them into a lasting settlement.
Netanyahu did insist that any ceasefire be sufficient to allow the return of northern residents to their homes, a declared war aim of the government. Reports also state that Israel will insist on an active involvement in ensuring south Lebanon is demilitarized.
On the other hand, Lebanese sources speaking to the Saudi outlet al-Hadath say that Israel has backtracked on its previous demand that Hezbollah withdraw 15 kilometers from the border, instead sufficing with seven.
