Lebanon will not enter negotiations with Israel until a ceasefire is firmly in place, President Joseph Aoun said, calling for a unified national stance.
He also stressed the need to prioritize the return of displaced residents to their villages, alongside a crackdown on weapons stockpiles and any armed presence.
A second meeting between Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter is scheduled for Thursday at the State Department. The talks are expected to focus on extending the truce and setting a framework for negotiations, including timing and venue.
Ahead of the meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Lebanon as a “failed state effectively run by Iran through Hezbollah,” adding that the group was “a common enemy of Israel and Lebanon”
He said disputes such as border demarcation could be resolved, but called Hezbollah the main obstacle and urged Beirut to cooperate against it.
Aoun has been working to close ranks among political factions and build backing for the negotiating track. Contacts are ongoing to extend the ceasefire, he said, pledging efforts to end what he described as the country’s “abnormal conditions.”
He insisted any talks would proceed without compromising sovereignty, saying there would be no concessions “except in what serves Lebanon’s interests and those of all its people.”
The planned negotiations would hinge on a full halt to Israeli attacks, a complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the return of detainees and deployment of the army along the international border, alongside the launch of reconstruction efforts. The return of displaced residents remains a central priority, he underlined.
The president chaired a security meeting focused on maintaining stability. He called for stricter enforcement of government measures, stronger deployment of security forces and closer coordination among agencies.
He also ordered raids on suspected arms depots. “No one will be allowed to obstruct security measures or undermine stability,” he said, calling the preservation of civil peace a “red line.”
Separately, discussions with a parliamentary committee focused on documenting damage caused by Israel, with the aim of presenting evidence - including photos and videos - to international bodies. Legal files are also being prepared in cooperation with the Beirut Bar Association.
Committee members praised efforts to shore up the ceasefire and push for lasting stability, particularly in the south, as well as moves to bring Lebanon’s case to regional and international forums.
Hezbollah has rejected the prospect of direct talks. MP Hassan Ezzedine said such calls were “rejected and condemned,” describing them as a departure from Lebanon’s national principles and Arab identity.
He also called for “genuine national unity” to face external pressure, adding that the group would not accept imposed boundaries or buffer zones.
