Sheikh Naim Qassem, the leader of the Hezbollah organization, expressed his opposition to direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in a statement released on Monday.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing the local Al-Manar television channel, Qassem sharply criticized the Lebanese leadership's stance, emphasizing that entering into such talks constitutes a significant error on their part.
Hezbollah, a Shia militant group and political party based in Lebanon, has historically maintained a policy of non-recognition toward Israel, often referred to as the "Zionist entity" in its official rhetoric. The group's refusal to support direct diplomatic engagement comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing border disputes. While Lebanon and Israel have previously engaged in indirect negotiations—most notably the 2022 maritime border agreement mediated by the United States—the prospect of direct face-to-face dialogue remains a highly contentious issue within Lebanese internal politics and the broader Middle East geopolitical landscape.
