Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday defended his decision to engage in negotiations with Israel, saying his demand for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon is “non‑negotiable”, as talks between the two sides are set to resume in Washington this week.
In a statement marking the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 after over two decades of occupation, Aoun said the commemoration comes at a time when “Lebanon is weighted down by a painful reality.”
“Israeli attacks have not stopped, and our dear southern villages are suffering under a renewed occupation,” he said.
“Lebanon will not accept this reality,” Aoun added.
Ten villages targeted
Israel has taken control of large parts of southern Lebanon and carried out extensive strikes on villages outside its direct control, despite a ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah on 17 April.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli army called for the evacuation of 10 villages ahead of new strikes against Hezbollah.
Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic‑language spokesman, named the villages in a post on X, noting that most are located in the Nabatieh area. He said the Israeli military was “compelled to operate with force” against Hezbollah due to what he described as violations of the ceasefire agreement.
“For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres away from these towns and villages to open areas,” he said.
Hezbollah against talks and disarmament
Hezbollah’s leader Naim Qassem reiterated late on Sunday his opposition to Lebanon‑Israel negotiations and again said the group would not disarm.
“If this government is incapable of guaranteeing sovereignty, it should go,” said Qassem. “Where is the sovereignty if America runs the cogs of the Lebanese state?”
For his part, President Aoun said: “These negotiations will neither amount to surrender nor involve concessions.”
He added, “The path to a full Israeli withdrawal will remain an uncompromised, constant national demand that the Lebanese state works to achieve through the option of negotiations.”
Israel says its troops will remain in south Lebanon until the threat of Hezbollah is removed.
Lebanese authorities have banned Hezbollah’s military activities following the country’s involvement in the wider Middle East conflict. However, the group continues to fight Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and has periodically shelled northern Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Qassem’s remarks, accusing him of calling for the overthrow of Lebanon’s government and seeking to plunge Lebanon “back into chaos”.
New round of talks
Lebanon and Israel, which have no diplomatic relations, began US‑mediated negotiations in April.
A new round of talks is scheduled to take place in Washington on 2 and 3 June, preceded by a meeting between military delegations from both countries at the Pentagon on 29 May.
Lebanon was drawn into the broader Middle East conflict on 2 March, following Hezbollah strikes against Israel.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 3,100 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since then.
Sources: CNA, AMNA, AFP, Al Jazeera
