Aoun Calls on Lebanon's Political Leaders to Set Aside Differences by Holding Dialogue

President Michel Aoun hold talks with Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze sect, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna. (Dalati & Nohra)
President Michel Aoun hold talks with Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze sect, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna. (Dalati & Nohra)
TT

Aoun Calls on Lebanon's Political Leaders to Set Aside Differences by Holding Dialogue

President Michel Aoun hold talks with Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze sect, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna. (Dalati & Nohra)
President Michel Aoun hold talks with Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze sect, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna. (Dalati & Nohra)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun stressed Monday on the importance of holding the dialogue meeting he had called for, stressing the need for such in overcoming political disputes.

Sources close to the presidency had previously told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun contacted heads of parties and parliamentary blocs to invite them to bilateral meetings to discuss the possibility to hold all-party talks.

On Monday, the Amal Movement, which is headed by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, announced it will attend the dialogue.

This came in light of disputes between the Shiite party and Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement over several files, mainly the investigation in the 2020 Beirut port explosion.

Several leaders, including former Prime Minister and head of the al-Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri, have refused to participate in the talks.

“With regard to our invitation to dialogue, positive reactions came first, but some reservations began to emerge,” Aoun said while meeting Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze sect, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna.

He said the program of this dialogue meeting is based on three main points of contention in Lebanon

According to the president, the meeting must first tackle economic recovery

Political leaders should also discuss the extended administrative and financial decentralization.

It must also address the national defense strategy amid regional instability.



Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
TT

Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that US-President elect Donald Trump agreed on the steps that President Joe Biden’s administration will take to ensure the success of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel approved the ceasefire on Tuesday night after Lebanon had already agreed to it.

The sources, which followed up on the negotiations for the 60-day truce, said the steps call for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and their weapons from the South where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed. In return, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon.

More negotiations through American mediators will take place throughout the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump “gave his blessing” to the process during his meeting with Biden at the White House two weeks ago.

A committee led by the US will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal. France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL are also part of the committee.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hezbollah’s withdrawal will take place in three 20-day phases. The first withdrawal will take place in the western sector.

It will coincide with an Israeli pullout from areas it occupied in that region. A strengthened Lebanese army force and UNIFIL troops will deploy in their place.

The second phase will cover the central sector and follow the same process.

The residents of the frontline southern villages will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately until they are deemed safe and after ensuring that no Hezbollah members or weapons remain there.

Residents of the so-called second and third line of villages south of the Litani River will be allowed to return to their homes immediately.

The source expected the US to play an “effective role” in the mechanism to oversee the withdrawal. It did not clarify whether any American forces will take part in the process.

It revealed that Britain and other countries will “exert special efforts to verify whether illegitimate weapons are being smuggled to Hezbollah.”

The five-member committee will not replace the tripartite committee already in place and that includes Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.