Beirut working to 'consolidate the cease-fire' ahead of negotiations with Israel in Washington

BEIRUT — Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stated that the authorities are “working to consolidate the cease-fire” ahead of the next round of talks with Israel. Beirut insists that these discussions, scheduled for next week in Washington, must be accompanied by a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which have escalated in recent days. Speaking on Al-Jazeera, Salam stated that “if Israeli aggression continues, consolidating the cease-fire will be the top priority in the negotiations.”

“We are seeking U.S. guarantees that will contribute to the restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will address the issue of halting Israeli attacks, the release of prisoners and the establishment of a withdrawal timetable to allow for the return of displaced persons and reconstruction,” Salam said, referring to the third round of direct talks in Washington next week.

“Negotiations, as we envisage them, should lead to an end to the conflict between Lebanon and Israel,” Salam emphasized. “Lebanon has succeeded in establishing that the State is the sole negotiating party, through its constitutional institutions. Our success in establishing the state as the reference point for negotiations does not mean that we remain indifferent to developments in the Islamabad talks,” regarding the U.S. war on Iran, he stressed. “We are committed to the state’s sole monopoly on arms, in accordance with the decisions of the Lebanese government,” he added.

Beyrouth œuvre à « consolider le cessez-le-feu », avant les négociations avec Israël à Washington