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US leader tells Israel it ‘must immediately stop’ bombing Gaza, says he believes Hamas is ‘ready for a lasting peace’.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 7 (UPI) — U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack said Monday he was “unbelievably satisfied” with Lebanon’s response to Washington’s proposals to disarm Hezbollah, saying Israel seeks peace with its neighbor and Hezbollah needs to see that there is a path forward for them.

Barrack, however, warned that war-ravaged Lebanon risks being left behind if it fails to seize the current opportunities with the region changing at high speed.

The envoy, who was speaking after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun shortly after his arrival in Beirut, praised the Lebanese officials for presenting “a thoughtful and considered” seven-page response to his June 19 roadmap.

His initial proposals include a phased approach to disarm Hezbollah and other militant groups, the implementation of necessary reforms to unlock funds for reconstruction and help solve its acute financial crisis as well as the need to improve ties with neighboring Syria.

According to a statement released by the Presidential Palace, Barrack was handed over Lebanon’s reply with “ideas for a comprehensive solution.”

“We are creating a go-forward plan. To create that, we need dialogue. What the government gave us was something spectacular,” Barrack said. “We are both committed to get to the details and get a resolution. So, I am very, very hopeful.”

He said the mechanism set up to monitor the Nov. 27 cease-fire accord that ended 14 months of a devastating Israel-Hezbollah war “wasn’t sufficient” and “had no ability to correct a default,” referring to the mistrust between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel has continued striking southern Lebanon and other areas of the country since the cease-fire accord, which was brokered by the United States and France, went into effect Feb. 18. It has also refused to fully withdraw and retained five strategic positions inside south Lebanon to force the full disarmament of Hezbollah.

More than 200 Lebanese civilians and Hezbollah field commanders were killed in the ongoing strikes, which Israel claims to target suspected Hezbollah positions and foil the group’s attempts to reorganize its ranks and rearm in violations of the cease-fire accord. Lebanon and Hezbollah on their part recorded more than 3,700 Israeli violations.

In line with the cease-fire agreement, the Lebanese Army has taken control of most of Hezbollah’s positions and military facilities, pushing the militant group away from the border with Israel and preventing it from having a military presence south of the Litani River. The Army could not complete its deployment because of Israel’s continued occupation of the five points inside south Lebanon.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam explained after a meeting with the U.S. envoy that Barrack “wouldn’t have come with new ideas” if the mechanism to monitor the ceasefire succeeded in ending the ongoing hostilities.

“These are ideas for implementing the cessation of hostilities arrangements … based on the principle of parallel and reciprocal steps — not that Israel withdraws first and then we start talking about the issue of exclusive arms control, or that if there is no exclusivity of arms, Israel doesn’t withdraw,” Salam said.

“That’s not how this process works. There are interlinked steps that unfold over time.”

He said Lebanon’s demands include the necessity of a full Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, a comprehensive and complete cessation of hostile activities, the immediate start of reconstruction efforts and the release of the remaining Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.

“The exclusivity of weapons must be in the hands of the Lebanese state, and it alone must reclaim the decision over war and peace,” Salam said. “This authority must lie solely with the Lebanese state, without any partnership with any other party.”

On Sunday, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said his group, which has repeatedly refused to lay down arms, was ready for both choices: peace and building Lebanon, but also for defending it and confronting Israel until it ends its air strikes and pulls out from south Lebanon.

The U.S. envoy said there is “an opportunity in the air,” calling on Lebanon not to miss it as the region is changing and “everything is moving at warp speed.”

Barrack said that he believes Israel wants peace, not war, with Lebanon while Hezbollah needs to see that “there is a future for them … that there is an intersection of peace and prosperity for them.”

“It has been a nightmare on both sides, for both countries and everybody is tired of it,” he said. “I think both countries are trying to give the same thing: the notion of a stand down agreement of the cessation of hostilities and a road to peace… but everybody will have to give up something.”

Barrack said while Syria “went from absolute chaos to hope of the world standing behind it” and started a dialogue with Israel, Lebanon “can’t be left behind.”

He warned Lebanon that the region “the region is moving at mach speed,” and will be “left behind sadly” if it refuses to change.

But if it does change, Barrack said Washington will support it, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump “for some reason, believes that Lebanon still is the key to the region and can be the Pearl of the Mediterranean.”

Gabby Logan maintained a stern demeanour when asked if she was to receive the same salary as her predecessor Gary Lineker after she was confirmed as his replacement

Gabby Logan’s role as presenter of Match of the Day appears to have reignited the discussion over the gender pay gap within the BBC. Gabby, 52, who has been a recognised sports presenter for many years, is set to replace Gary Lineker after he stepped down from his coveted role on the BBC show in May.

At the time, Gary was considered to be the highest paid star after securing an estimated salary of £1.35million a year. When speaking to The Times, Gabby was asked if she had also asked for the same salary. But her response was unexpected. She bluntly responded saying: “That’s all sorted.”

And when asked if she could elaborate on her answer, her reply was even shorter. She said: “It’s sorted.”

Gabby will be splitting her duties on Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 with co-stars Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates.

It has been reported that the presenters set up a secret WhatsApp group to discuss their takeover of the show and create more of a bond.

But according to the Daily Mail, certain messages were deleted in a bid to avoid leaks. Despite presenting changes to the show, Gabby was keen to reiterate that the changes will not be huge.

Speaking on the ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast, she explained: “Nobody wants to throw the baby out with the bath water.”

She added: “It’s a football highlights show, we’ve got the same kind of pundits… and it’s all about the football. There are now so many great male and female broadcasters.”

She went on to explain: “But also, so many more females working in sports, not just in front of the camera or the microphone, but also behind the scenes. It’s like any business, if you say we have a 50/50 male and female split but all the women are doing the low paid jobs, that’s not 50/50, that’s a hierarchy that’s male-dominated.”

On concluding her point, she said: “It’s been really good development to hear women’s voices in your ears and hearing them say they’re the director which is great. Hopefully it’s a better environment than when we were starting out. It’s definitely a much more positive place generally.”

In addition to her brief discussion of her new role with The Times , Gabby also opened up on her time on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2007.

Her husband Kenny Logan also competed on the show and made it to the top five contestants. However, Gabby was unable to share the same glory as she was eliminated far sooner.

She claimed that at the time she remembered crying into her sofa believing the public did not like her.

She told The Times: “It was a harsh lesson, learning that sometimes not everyone likes you. You realise the parts of your personality that you thought were attributes as a sportswoman are not valued.”

She added: “I was told I was being too competitive, whereas I was thinking, ‘I thought that was good. That’s what I did in sport — and it worked — and that’s what my husband is doing.'”

Gabby firmly believes that there was a definitive cultural shift on the show as competitive women are now more “appreciated.”

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