Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Thursday that ongoing negotiations with Israel do not constitute betrayal, rejecting criticism from Hezbollah and insisting Lebanon will not concede “an inch” of its territory.
The talks are “not betrayal, but a diplomatic war without senseless bloodshed,” Aoun said, adding that Lebanon’s objective is to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory.
He stressed: “We will not concede a single inch of Lebanese territory.”
His remarks came a day after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain “indefinitely” in what he described as “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.
Framework agreement under US auspices
Lebanon signed a US-mediated framework agreement with Israel on June 26 aimed at achieving “lasting peace”, a move strongly opposed by the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Under the framework, the Lebanese army would re-establish state authority in the south, on condition that Hezbollah disarms, initially in designated “pilot zones” from which Israeli troops would withdraw. No timeline has been specified.
Further details are expected in a security annex that has not yet been made public.
Conflict and casualties
Aoun said the decision to enter negotiations was driven by the need to end the conflict and restore control over Lebanese territory.
More than 4,200 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2 in the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, according to Lebanese authorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited southern Lebanon earlier this week, said Israeli troops would remain as long as the Hezbollah threat persists.
Source: AMNA
