Lebanese President Michel Aoun has emphasized that criticisms regarding direct negotiations with Israel are not worthy of response, as Lebanon has entered direct negotiations with Israel multiple times since 1949.
Speaking to a delegation from the 'Strong Republic' bloc led by Samir Geagea at the presidential palace in Baabda, President Aoun stated, 'I assure you that I will not retreat from the decision to negotiate. I am committed to clearly communicating to the Lebanese people the importance of the path we are on and Lebanon's insistence on sovereignty in all our actions,' adding, 'I have made a difficult choice, and the road is not paved, due to power balances, Israeli calculations, the Iranian-American situation, and other complexities. This choice asserts the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and its right to negotiate on its own behalf, helping to distance Lebanon from the consequences of the war that was forced upon it.'
He questioned, 'Why should the Lebanese people continue to pay the price for wars ignited by external directives serving foreign interests? The framework agreement can restore Lebanon's rights through diplomatic means if Israel adheres to its terms and they are successfully implemented,' President Aoun assured, 'We currently have an opportunity to regain what we lost in a futile war, especially amid the current American interest in Lebanon and the US's ability to pressure Israel to overcome obstacles.'
President Aoun concluded by explaining that 'progress is gradually being made, and all criticisms of this course of action aim to turn the Lebanese issue into a bargaining chip for Iran.'