Aoun Appoints Head of Lebanese Delegation: Upcoming Negotiations with Israel Separate from Any Other Negotiations

SadaNews - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that "the bilateral negotiations (with Israel) will be handled by Lebanon through a delegation headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, and no one from Lebanon will participate in this mission or take his place." He reiterated, saying, "The purpose of the negotiation option is to stop hostilities and end the Israeli occupation of southern regions and deploy the army to the internationally recognized southern borders." Aoun spoke about his recent conversation with the American president, stating that Trump showed during the call "full understanding and responsiveness to Lebanon's demand, intervening with Israel to stop the fire and prepare to launch a negotiation track that ends the abnormal situation and restores the authority of the Lebanese state and its sovereignty over its entire territory, including the south. Communication will continue between us to maintain the ceasefire and begin negotiations that should be accompanied by the broadest national support so that the negotiating team can achieve its desired goals." He noted that "the upcoming negotiations are separate from any other negotiations because Lebanon faces two choices: either the continuation of war with its humanitarian, social, economic, and sovereign repercussions, or negotiations to put an end to this war and achieve sustainable stability. I choose negotiation and I am hopeful that we can save Lebanon." In a related context, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji received a phone call from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, discussing the latest developments in the Lebanese arena following the ceasefire, which has entered its sixth day, and the negotiation path that is still in its beginnings. Raji stated that "Lebanon has been drawn into a war it did not choose, and the government is proceeding to regain the decision of war and peace and impose its sovereignty by its own will over all Lebanese territory," expressing hope that "the negotiation process will lead to the recovery of occupied lands and the withdrawal of Israel as soon as possible." Wong confirmed her country's full support for the steps being taken by the Lebanese government to assert its sovereignty over all its territory, stressing "the importance of restoring stability and security," and expressing "Australia's readiness to provide necessary humanitarian assistance." This comes at a time when Israel continues to violate the ceasefire daily through artillery and aerial bombardment, targeting and demolishing homes, as its forces remain in the areas they have infiltrated and control towns in southern Lebanon within what is called the "Blue Line" and continue to destroy them.