Egyptian Ambassador: No Presidential Candidate Has 86 Votes Yet, and No Veto on Any Name /  Qassem: The Resistance Is Ready for Confrontation and Decides the Timing… Safa: Veto Only on Geagea

 January 06, 2025

The political editor wrote

Reports on ongoing negotiations over draft agreements in Gaza to end the war and ensure a prisoner exchange indicate steady progress. The indirect talks are led by a delegation from the occupying entity, chaired by Mossad head David Barnea, and a delegation from Hamas, led by the movement’s deputy leader and head of the negotiation file, Khalil al-Hayya. Mediators – Qatari, Egyptian, and American – have elevated their representation, with U.S. President Joe Biden’s advisor, Brett McGurk, leading the American side.

Reports suggest the exchange of lists detailing potential prisoners for the swap, alongside discussions of a proposal submitted by McGurk regarding Gaza’s administration post-war. The proposal includes forming a Palestinian technocratic committee acceptable to Hamas but subordinate to the Ramallah-based Authority. It also outlines joint Arab-European involvement in governance and the deployment of European security monitoring units in areas vacated by the occupying army, including the Philadelphia Axis, Netzarim Crossing, and Rafah Crossing.

In Lebanon, anticipation is mounting ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary session called by Speaker Nabih Berri to address the presidential election. Berri announced that successive voting rounds will be held until a president is elected. Despite diplomatic efforts by Saudi and Qatari delegations, no consensus candidate has emerged. Efforts to promote Army Commander General Joseph Aoun face the obstacle of securing the 86 votes needed for his election, given the constitutional amendment required.

Notably, the Egyptian Ambassador commented yesterday, stating, “None of the current candidates appear to have the 86-vote majority required, as far as we know”, while emphasising that “things may change” and adding, “There is no veto from the Quintet on any name”.

Regarding the situation in southern Lebanon and rumors of Israeli intentions to extend its presence beyond the 60-day ceasefire deadline, Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit head, Hajj Wafic Safa, declared that no official notification of such plans has been received. He reiterated that the resistance remains strong and capable, echoing the words of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who affirmed that the resistance will decide the timing of its confrontation with the occupation, whether before or after the deadline.

Hajj Safa pointed out that enforcing the timeline falls under the Lebanese state’s pursuit of commitments through the monitoring committee established under the U.S.-chaired agreement. He added that during Amos Hochstein’s upcoming visit, Lebanon will demand clarity on commitments to the agreement and guarantees for its implementation.

Speaking from the site of former Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s martyrdom, Hajj Safa stressed that Hezbollah approaches the presidential file with seriousness. He noted that Speaker Nabih Berri, in coordination with Hezbollah and its allies, is leading the efforts on this front. Hajj Safa stated that Hezbollah has no veto on the election of General Joseph Aoun as president, but the only veto is on the candidacy of the head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, describing him as “a project of war and strife”.