As battles rage in southern Lebanon, pressure is mounting on President Joseph Aoun to meet directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an event that could further inflame internal tensions in the country.
While no date has been set, Aoun is reportedly set to visit the White House in May, a month after the first direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in decades, which have divided the Lebanese people.
The decision to enter direct negotiations particularly angered Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed political and military group. Hezbollah wants an end to the war but prefers indirect negotiations to achieve that goal.
Analysts told Al Jazeera that internal tensions make an Aoun-Netanyahu meeting in Washington unlikely. "The push for an Aoun–Netanyahu summit is being driven by the calendar and by Washington’s appetite for a visible deliverable," said Dania Arayssi of the New Lines Institute.
Israel began its war on Lebanon in October 2023. A ceasefire was agreed in November 2024, but Israel continued attacks, violating the ceasefire more than 10,000 times in 15 months. Hezbollah responded on March 2.
Israel invaded Lebanon, systematically destroying southern towns and villages. Since March 2, attacks have killed nearly 2,700 people, including over 100 healthcare workers. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced.
Aoun himself has said it is not the right time to meet Netanyahu. "We must first reach a security agreement and stop the Israeli attacks," he stated.
Analysts say Aoun's hesitation reflects a lack of domestic consensus. "Aoun doesn’t have clear regional backing, and it is not just Hezbollah that is opposed," said Nadim Houry of the Arab Reform Initiative.
The push is coming largely from the US side. US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has supported a direct meeting, but analysts warn it could destabilize Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia also opposes Lebanon normalizing relations with Israel. Saudi officials have met with Aoun and Berri to find a unified Lebanese position.
Source: www.aljazeera.com