Assistant for the “Strong Republic” bloc: I will not back down from the decision to negotiate with Israel, and the criticisms do not warrant a response

Beirut – Mansour Shaaban: Tension has once again gripped southern Lebanon after days of calm, as Israeli military operations resumed with artillery shelling targeting the town of Deir Qanoun in the Marjayoun district. An Israeli raid carried out two strikes targeting a vehicle on the Kafr Kaman road, while the Israeli army continued widespread demolition operations inside tents, shaking the surrounding area.

The timing of this situation coincides with preparations at Baabda Palace for President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun’s visit to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, following an official invitation. In preparation for the visit, Aoun received the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Dr. Samir Geagea, his wife MP Stétra Geagea, and a delegation from the “Strong Republic” parliamentary bloc.

Aoun told the delegation that “criticism regarding direct negotiations with Israel does not warrant a response, as Lebanon has entered direct negotiations with Israel on more than one occasion, starting in 1949.”

He emphasized, “I will not retract the decision to negotiate that I have made, while insisting that my positions include clarifications for the Lebanese people regarding the importance of the path we are following, and Lebanon’s steadfastness in asserting its sovereignty in all the steps we take.”

General Aoun added, according to reports from the Lebanese Presidency, “I have made a difficult choice, and the path is not smooth, due to the balance of power, Israeli calculations, the Iranian-American situation, and other complexities. This choice affirms the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and its right to negotiate on its own behalf, and removes it from the effects of the war imposed upon it.”

He questioned, “Why should the Lebanese people continue to pay the price for wars ignited by external directives and for the interests of those external actors?”

He assured that “matters are being gradually resolved, and all criticism targeting this path stems from a desire to return the Lebanese file and card into Iran’s hands.”

Geagea, after meeting with President Aoun, said, “The state today is President Joseph Aoun, the government, and the parliament. What they issue must serve as a reference for everyone.”

He added, “A real state cannot exist without a single army and a single weapon, and without every party assuming its responsibilities without exclusion or elimination, while President Aoun fully exercises his constitutional powers.”

He continued, “None of us decides anything today except in matters concerning ourselves. As for the nation, the state, and our destiny, there is a Lebanese state.”

Regarding the President’s visit to Washington, Geagea said he conveyed President Aoun’s proposals and wishes, clarifying, “We are continuing the path initiated by the Framework Agreement for a simple reason: I reiterate that none of us is ‘addicted’ to this agreement, nor does anyone see it as ideal or as the final solution. However, at present, we have no other alternative.”

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri received the Lebanese Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Sultan Al-Sharji, at the Second Presidency in Ain al-Tineh. The meeting discussed the latest developments, the general situation in Lebanon and the region, and bilateral relations between the two countries.

At the same time, Amnesty International revealed that Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed 24 civilians within a single week, including 12 children, in attacks it described as amounting to war crimes.

The organization stated in a report, “Investigations conducted focused on three separate Israeli airstrikes, which resulted in the wiping out of three entire Lebanese families, in tragic scenes reflecting the brutality of war and its repercussions on civilians,” and called for an investigation into those attacks as they constitute “war crimes.”