Top U.S. Diplomat Meets Netanyahu to Discuss Syria and Lebanon

A senior U.S. diplomat, Thomas Barrack, arrived in Israel on Sunday and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on Syria and Lebanon, according to three Israeli officials.
Prior to meeting Netanyahu, Barrack also spoke with Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, and Defence Minister Israel Katz. Earlier in the week, Dermer met with Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Paris to discuss security arrangements in southern Syria, according to two Syrian sources familiar with the talks. These discussions are part of ongoing U.S.-mediated efforts to ease tensions in the region. A previous round of negotiations, held in Paris in late July, ended without an agreement.
While in Lebanon on Monday, Barrack said that Israel should adhere to a proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year. In return, Israel would stop its military operations in Lebanon. The plan includes a phased process in which armed factions would surrender their weapons, while Israel would cease its ground, air, and naval operations and pull back its forces from southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s cabinet endorsed the plan’s goals earlier this month, although Hezbollah has rejected the idea of disarmament. Barrack emphasised that the next step lies with Israel.
Netanyahu’s office has not issued a statement on the matter.