Newly-elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, center, reviews the honor guard upon his arrival at the Lebanese Parliament to be sworn in as a new president, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
In a rare and dramatic appeal, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun challenged Israel and its leaders to enter direct negotiations to end the conflict, arguing that military force alone will never bring lasting security.
“We are ready. We are willing. We are committed. Are you? If you are, let’s sit and talk,” Aoun declared in a televised interview, while insisting that Lebanon seeks a permanent end to hostilities and a future built on stability rather than war.
The remarks come as diplomatic momentum gathers following recent US-backed talks between Israel and Lebanon. Aoun also delivered a sharp rebuke of Iran, accusing Tehran of treating Lebanon as a pawn in its regional struggle and sacrificing Lebanese interests for its own agenda.
With fighting still simmering along Israel’s northern border, Aoun’s message signals a potentially historic shift: a Lebanese leader openly calling on Israel to negotiate a path toward ending one of the Middle East’s longest-running conflicts.
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