Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has stated that the ongoing negotiations with Israel should not be interpreted as a concession or capitulation.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media, that the president made these remarks on the anniversary of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000. According to President Joseph Aoun, the primary objective of the negotiations is to protect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"The path to Israel's complete withdrawal remains an unwavering national demand that no one will abandon. The Lebanese state seeks to achieve this not through concessions or surrender, but through negotiations that reaffirm Lebanon's exclusive right to protect its land and sovereignty," the president said. He emphasized that the greatest respect for the liberation of southern Lebanon must be expressed through building a strong and sovereign state, adding that national sovereignty is the responsibility of every Lebanese citizen.
Southern Lebanon had been under Israeli control since 1978 until Israel fully withdrew on May 25, 2000, a date now celebrated in Lebanon as Liberation Day. According to reports, the first direct talks between Lebanon and Israel at the ambassadorial level took place in Washington on April 16. Following these discussions, a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hezbollah by US President Donald Trump. However, Hezbollah has criticized the Lebanese government's decision to enter into direct negotiations with Israel.
