Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji. (Credit: National News Agency)
Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji stated on Friday that it is out of the question for Lebanon to normalize its relations with Israel. He declared this after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed a wish to "normalize relations with Lebanon" and mentioned ongoing negotiations, although it might seem "premature from the Lebanese viewpoint."
"I do not know what the Israelis think, but I know what we want. We want a complete and unconditional Israeli withdrawal and a return to the 1949 armistice treaty. Normalization is out of the question, and direct political talks are also out of the question and rejected," Rajji emphasized in an interview published by General Security.
"We are facing a state with strong capabilities that we are not able to confront militarily, which is why we are working diplomatically and asking our friends to pressure Israel to withdraw. But so far, there has been no response, so what else can we do besides political and diplomatic efforts?" he asked. According to him, "the only solution is for the United States, which has interests with Israel, to press for its withdrawal from Lebanon, as well as the international community. But everyone is asking us to fully implement Resolution 1701."
Rajji also indicated that the Lebanese Army is "deployed in the south and is doing an excellent job, but Israel and the United States feel that this is not enough because the army operates south of the Litani River, while the international community is also talking about the north of the Litani, the collection of illegal weapons and their exclusivity in the hands of the Lebanese state." He specified that "the official bodies authorized to bear arms are specified in the cease-fire agreement, namely the army, the Internal Security Forces, General Security, customs and even the municipal police. That is what they want us to implement, but some in Lebanon are still not convinced to apply what is required."
The U.S. deputy special envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, expected in Beirut, had already called for open dialogue between Lebanon and Israel, stating that Joseph Aoun supported diplomatic negotiations, but the president rejected the idea of normalization, though he expressed openness to include "civilian experts" in working groups with Israel.
'Reconsider agreements' with Syria
The Lebanese minister further affirmed that the Lebanese position is to "reconsider all agreements between Lebanon and Syria, whether to amend or cancel them, especially the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council, which must be abolished. Everything that is in Lebanon's interest will remain, and everything unjust to Lebanon or imposed by force will be reconsidered." "Serious and legal dialogue has not yet started with Syria, as the Syrian state is new and the Lebanese government was formed only two months ago," he continued.
Regarding international aid to Lebanon, the minister indicated that "there will be no economic aid or support for reconstruction as long as Lebanon has not implemented what is needed." "There are conditions for reconstruction and aid; these are not political conditions but rather national ones, the most important of which is the implementation of international resolutions to maintain peace and internal stability," Rajji added.
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
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