Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday defended negotiations with Israel, asserting that the talks do not constitute betrayal and that he will not surrender “a single inch of Lebanon’s territory,” according to the presidency.
Background of the Conflict
The latest war erupted on March 2 when Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion that have killed more than 4,200 people in Lebanon, according to authorities.
Negotiations and Reactions
Lebanon signed a US-backed framework agreement with Israel last week aimed at securing peace, a move that has sparked major protests from Iran-backed Hezbollah. Aoun stated that negotiations are not “treason but a diplomatic war without unnecessary bloodshed.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the Israeli army would remain “until further notice” in what it describes as “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting a so-called “security zone” in south Lebanon on Tuesday, reaffirmed that forces would stay as long as Hezbollah remains a threat.
Territorial Integrity
Aoun emphasized that Beirut decided to engage in talks “to guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from its territory.” He declared, “We will not yield a single inch of Lebanese territory.” The framework agreement envisions the Lebanese army gradually establishing authority over south Lebanon as Hezbollah disarms and Israel withdraws, but no timeline is set. A security annex with detailed terms has not been made public.
