Hezbollah and affiliated journalists call for a 'national and sovereign stance'

The Sonar media center on Friday organized a meeting between journalists and Hezbollah’s press office, a day after the party published an open letter to President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker and Amal leader Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The main message behind the letter: no negotiations with Israel.

During this meeting, Youssef Zein, Hezbollah’s head of media relations, stressed that "the timing of this letter has special significance because it coincides with the first anniversary of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, and it allows us to clarify our position on all ideas, attempts, and discussions related to negotiations with the enemy and attempts to bypass the cease-fire agreement [between Hezbollah and Israel]."

Salam's response to Hezbollah's letter

Salam responds to Hezbollah's letter: Only the state is authorized to make decisions on war and peace

The most recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on Oct. 8, 2023, as a support front for Gaza, but Israel escalated the war in September 2024 for 66 days until Nov. 27, the date of the cease-fire. Since then, Israel has continued to attack Lebanon daily, even as the Lebanese state has been working with the army to disarm Hezbollah according to the terms of the agreement. The possibility of negotiations with Israel are being waved around, but what form any negotiations should or will take remains unclear.

“A unified Lebanese stance is needed that affirms our commitment to the [cease-fire] agreement in order to force the enemy to comply, because Lebanon has no interest in bypassing it,” Zein said. The cease-fire agreement establishes a monitoring mechanism by a committee chaired by an American general, with no direct contacts between Israel and Lebanon.

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Zein referred to recent diplomatic initiatives and the intense visits of envoys to Lebanon, alluding to talk "about direct negotiations with the Israeli entity." He spoke of "American schemes being hatched against Lebanon during this delicate stage." "The current phase requires a unified national position and a responsible attitude that measures up to security and sovereignty requirements," he said.

Le Hezbollah face aux journalistes : pour une « prise de position nationale et souveraine »