What’s happening
Amos Hochstein, U.S. Special Envoy tasked by President Joe Biden to tackle Middle Eastern affairs, is mediating discussions in Lebanon, which aim to resolve 13 distinct points of contention between the country and Israel. Nonetheless, a key issue surging in the talks has no direct relation to these disputed points: Mount Dov. Despite this, the Hezbollah leadership is calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the region.
Why it matters
While the US envoy concentrates on negotiating Israel’s retreat from specific border points, Lebanon has shifted focus towards the strategically significant area of Mount Dov. The Lebanese politicians and Hezbollah indicate that their central condition for negotiations is contingent upon the resolution of Mount Dov’s sovereignty, hinting at larger geopolitical implications for stability and territorial integrity in the tension-fraught Israel-Lebanon border region.
Context
The significance around Mount Dov — known for igniting hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah — has been brought back into prominence. In recent actions, Hezbollah continually targets IDF installations along the border, with an attempted infiltration leading to the elimination of a terrorist squad. This renewed assertiveness by Lebanon and Hezbollah comes amidst talks by Hochstein aimed to pacify longstanding hostilities.
The Response
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has openly declared an interest in reverting to pre-1967 borders, pushing for the return of Mount Dov to Lebanese governance; and this narrative is echoed throughout varying levels of political discourse within Lebanon.
The International Role
Moving at the pace set by Hochstein’s diplomacy could result in sidestepping key qualms–a local newspaper reported Hochstein affirmed his non-engagement regarding Mount Dov, potentially creating a diplomatic stand still. Mount Dov’s inclusion in discussions holds deep historical roots that dip into its geostrategic status, currently classified as a part of the Golan Heights under the domain of future negotiations with Syria.
Significance beyond Mount Dov
The broader strokes of the dispute involve an array of locations along the Israel-Lebanon border which Lebanon claims inherently. There’s a necessity for a nuanced approach to these disputes as evidenced by the supportive role of regional stability, considering the annexation of Ghajar and other contested coordinates.
The Takeaway
Israel and Lebanon face a complicated nexus of discord anchored not only by the debated territorial lines but also symbolically through locations like Mount Dov. Hezbollah’s preemptive consent to US-mediated talks suggests a reduced interest in conflict expansion, however, the organization’s exact aspirations remain closely tied to broader regional politics including Gulf and Iranian influences.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.