Saudi Arabia, Qatar to invest in south Lebanon

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are ready to invest in an economic zone in south Lebanon near the border with Israel that would create jobs for members of the militant Hezbollah group and its supporters once they lay down their weapons, President Trump's envoy to the Middle East said Tuesday.

- BassEM MROvUE AND KAREEM CHEHAYEB

TOM BARRACK, left, speaks at a joint news conference with Morgan Ortagus.

Tom Barrack made his comments in Beirut after trips to Israel and Syria in which he discussed with officials there the ongoing situation in Lebanon following this month's decision by the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah by the end ofthe year.

Hezbollah’s leader rejected the government's plan, vowing to keep the ‘weapons.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces could begin withdrawing from territory they hold in southern Lebanon after the Lebanese —_ government's “momentous decision” to disarm Hezbollah.

The U.S.-backed Lebanese army is preparing a plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament that should be ready by the end of August. The government is expected to discuss the army's plan and approve it during a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

“We have to have money coming into the system. The money will come from the Gulf,” Barrack told reporters after meeting President Joseph Aoun. “Qatar and Saudi Arabia are partners and are willing to do that for the south [of Lebanon] if we're asking a portion of the Lebanese community to give up their livelihood.”