Lebanon: No Talks with Israel Until Ceasefire Is Respected

Lebanon is waiting for the United States to set a date for the start of negotiations with Israel following a series of preparatory meetings in Washington, according to the L'Orient Today website.

President Joseph Aoun stressed that before negotiations begin, Israel must fully respect the ceasefire, which has been in place since mid-April but which both sides accuse each other of violating.

Aoun also rejected criticism that Lebanon has acquiesced to continued Israeli attacks, saying a US statement on the matter was not a binding agreement. He maintains that a negotiated solution is the only way to resolve the conflict, with the support of both domestic and foreign partners.

The situation remains serious. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has caused thousands of casualties and displaced more than a million people. Economic losses amount to tens of millions of dollars a day and, according to the UN, more than a million people face acute food insecurity.

(mja)