The deputy Wael Abou Faour during an interview on the Alhurra channel. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — MP Wael Abou Faour of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) said the U.S. administration has discussed the prospect of a “reconciliation” between Lebanon and Israel with Lebanese officials, despite the two countries being officially in a state of war.
In an interview with U.S.-funded Arabic-language channel Alhurra relayed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Abou Faour stated that "the current U.S. administration is likely to push for such reconciliation and has already approached key Lebanese officials and prominent figures about this issue, which was rejected."
Abou Faour added that his party had not been approached about the matter "because our stance is well-known," saying, "The furthest we can go with Israel is a cease-fire agreement."
Abou Faour indicated that he would not be surprised if "reconciliation with Israel were imposed on Lebanon." While affirming that “the parties opposed to this reconciliation are far greater than those in favor." He also warned that "this would be a major disaster that could lead to internal conflict in Lebanon," adding that it could "potentially lead to clashes among the Lebanese."
During his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump negotiated the Abraham Accords in 2020, enabling Israel to normalize its relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. In early February, senior administration officials expressed the president's hope for expanding the Abraham Accords, hoping to bring new countries into the agreement.
'Forcing Israel to withdraw'
Abou Faour also called for “a Lebanese-Lebanese reconciliation based on the state project,” asserting that President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam can achieve minimal compromise among the various components of the country.
"Hezbollah is essential to Lebanon's internal balance and cannot be bypassed. Rational and prudent political forces must facilitate Hezbollah's return to the Lebanese state," he added. Following the open war with Israel, Hezbollah emerged weakened with much of its leadership decimated by Israeli attacks.
Referring to the cease-fire reached on Nov. 27 2024, after more than 13 months of conflict between Lebanon and Israel, Abou Faour said Lebanon was taking “all necessary steps” to ensure its implementation and "eliminate Israeli pretexts," for defaulting.
He also said, "The remarks we heard from some visiting American officials are not reassuring. Their essence was that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon unless Hezbollah’s weapons are surrendered and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 [passed in 2004] is implemented," adding that he does "not understand the connection between the two issues."
Abou Faour pondered, "Are the member countries of the cease-fire monitoring committee ready to exert political pressure on Israel to stop its aggression on Lebanon? Can the U.S. administration, which can order Benjamin Netanyahu in a single night to carry out a hostage exchange deal in Gaza, not force Israel to withdraw from the five disputed points in southern Lebanon? Of course, it can."
The U.S., alongside France, serves as a guarantor of the truce, which was extended until Feb. 18 after Israel accused the Lebanese government of failing to fully implement it, citing the slow deployment of the Lebanese Army, while simultaneously inhibiting the army from deployment. Despite the deadline’s expiration, Israeli forces maintain their occupation of several areas of southern Lebanon deemed "strategic" and continue to conduct airstrikes across the country.
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