File photo of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
Commenting on the speech by Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem in which he rejected the. ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN on Friday that Qassem does not represent the Lebanese people and that the Lebanese people are fed up with the wars with Israel.
“These people are not yours,” Aoun told Qassem, as he accused Iran of using Lebanon as a “bargaining chip” in its conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
Hezbollah rejected the ceasefire terms Thursday after the Iran-backed Shiite militia had initially said it would agree to a full ceasefire.
Without Hezbollah’s agreement, the ceasefire could stay “on paper.”
According to military analysts , if Hezbollah continues launching missiles and drones at northern Israel, it could push President Trump to give Israeli PM Netanyahu a “green light” for escalating the military campaign in Lebanon.
The new agreement between Israeli and Lebanese officials was reached after two days of negotiations between the two countries at the U.S. State Department, mediated by the Trump administration officials.
- As part of this understanding, the two sides agreed to create “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control and make sure there is no Hezbollah or any other militia presence. In return, the Israel Defense Forces will withdraw from the area.
- “These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the parties said in a joint statement.
President Aoun said military solutions will never bring peace to northern Israel. “We are ready, we are willing, we are committed (to negotiations to end the war),” Aoun told the Israelis. “If you are not, you will never live in peace, safety and security.”
The Lebanese president said the Lebanese and Israeli people have a “great opportunity” to live in safety and security. “They are both fed up with war since 1948. This is a huge opportunity. They both have to choose: war…or diplomacy.
