Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Sunday Hezbollah “has no choice but to accept the concept of the state.”
“Hezbollah has the right to take part in political life, but weapons must be restricted to the state,” he told local Egyptian television on the eve of a visit to Egypt.
“We have asked for US-sponsored indirect negotiations with Israel over the land border, similar to the negotiations that had taken place over the maritime border,” he revealed.
“I have not received a request for direct negotiations with Israel,” he went on to say.
“No one can pressure Israel but the United States,” he continued, noting that he believes that Washington has “positive” intentions.
As for Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and the spread of arms there outside state control, Aoun said: “We will take escalatory measures against anyone undermining the Lebanese scene.”
He stated that he was awaiting a visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the issue of weapons inside the camps.
On his visit to Egypt, he said he will discuss with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi providing the Lebanese army with equipment to handle explosives and tunnels.
