Hezbollah: "Rejecting Negotiations with Israel... Lebanon Must Cancel Talks Too"

"We Cannot Negotiate with the Usurping Entity Israel"
Lebanon and Israel to Hold Face-to-Face Talks on the 14th

Reuters Yonhap News

Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian armed faction in Lebanon, has rejected peace talks with Israel and pressured the Lebanese government to cancel the negotiations as well. The Lebanese government is reported to be preparing for its first face-to-face negotiations with Israel and the United States.

According to CNN, on the 13th (local time), Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general, stated in a televised speech, "We reject negotiations with the usurping entity Israel," adding, "We will continue to resist Israel's aggression against Lebanon." He further pressured the Lebanese government to cancel the talks, urging, "By canceling these negotiations, you must make a historic and heroic decision."

In contrast, the Lebanese government plans to hold its first face-to-face meeting with Israel in Washington, D.C. on the 14th, since the outbreak of hostilities. The negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, scheduled for the 14th and mediated by the U.S. Department of State, will be attended by both countries' ambassadors to the United States, while the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon will represent the mediating party.

Both Israel and Lebanon have indicated that the main agenda of this initial face-to-face meeting will be peace discussions. According to The New York Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at a press conference that "the meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States, to be held in Washington, D.C. on the 14th, will focus on efforts for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the achievement of lasting peace between the two countries."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also emphasized during a meeting with Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who visited Lebanon on the same day, that "Lebanon hopes these talks will eventually lead to a ceasefire agreement through direct discussions between Lebanon and Israel."

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