Barrack reportedly sought Ortagus' help for wide Israel network
U.S. special envoy to Lebanon Tom Barrack will return to Beirut next week after U.S. envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus' return from Israel, pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported.
The daily said that Barrack will continue his mission in Lebanon and that Ortagus has not been officially tasked with the Lebanese file but was invited by Barrack for her wide network of connections in Israel.
The daily quoted Barrack as telling President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that he had asked Ortagus to listen to Lebanon's remarks in order to transmit them to Israel and try to reach results after Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri promised Barrack to take steps if the latter could convince Israel to do some steps too.
“I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step,” Barrack said Monday. “Now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake.”
According to al-Akhbar, Berri had told Barrack that Lebanon needs something in return and that if the envoy can't pressure Israel to stop its war on Lebanon or do its part then any step taken by Lebanon would be useless.
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