President Joseph Aoun receiving Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï in Baabda, on Aug. 7, 2026. (Credit: Lebanese Presidency)
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun met Friday at the Baabda Palace with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, with whom he discussed the negotiations held this week between Lebanon and Israel.
"The president stated that the Rome negotiations had been fruitful, but that Israel must cooperate more and act differently, especially since the talks are taking place under U.S. auspices," Rai said following the meeting.
"I discussed the Rome negotiations with the head of state, and the Vatican is concerned about the situation in Lebanon. I also congratulated the president for his honorable positions, which inspire confidence in all Lebanese people," the prelate added.
Rai also said that "the Catholic schools in the border villages have not closed and that the issue of tuition fees is being resolved," calling for "the return of populations from the South and the continuation of reconstruction efforts."
A seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel took place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Rome under U.S. sponsorship. During these meetings, Israel refused to identify new areas in southern Lebanon for its army's withdrawal before the "verification" of effective control by the Lebanese army of the first "pilot zones."
A framework agreement, signed at the end of June between Lebanon and Israel, provides for the deployment of the Lebanese army in "pilot zones" in the south of the country evacuated by Israel, conditional upon the disarmament of Hezbollah.
