Aoun tells Barrack Israel and Syria need to commit to declaration paper

President Joseph Aoun told visiting U.S. envoy Tom Barrack on Monday that Israel and Syria need to commit to the “joint declaration paper,” after Lebanon endorsed a U.S.-backed plan for Hezbollah to disarm.

“What’s needed now is the commitment of the other parties to the content of the joint declaration paper, in addition to further support for the Lebanese Army and expediting the steps required internationally to launch reconstruction in the areas targeted by Israeli attacks,” Aoun told Barrack.

The U.S. envoy for his part said that his team would discuss the long-term cessation of hostilities with Israel and also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for post-war reconstruction in the country, after months of shuttle diplomacy between the U.S. and Lebanon.

“I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step,” said Barrack, who is also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey. “Now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake.”

Lebanon’s decision last week to support a plan to disarm Hezbollah angered the Iran-backed group and its allies, who believe Israel's military should first withdraw from the five hilltops it has occupied in southern Lebanon since the end of its 14-month war with Hezbollah last November and stop launching almost daily airstrikes in the country.

Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's secretary-general, has vowed to fight efforts to disarm the group, sowing fears of civil unrest in the country.

Barrack warned Hezbollah that it will have “missed an opportunity” if it doesn't back the calls for it to disarm.

Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam both want to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups, and have demanded Israel halt its attacks and withdraw from the country.