Lebanon PM Urges Israel to Set Clear Withdrawal Timeline; Hezbollah Criticizes Deal
Al Jazeera Staff
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam demanded that Israel halt destructive operations and provide a clear withdrawal timeline, while Hezbollah accused the government of exposing the army to exploitation. U.S. officials called the talks positive but offered no dates.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is pushing for a clear roadmap for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territory, while Hezbollah's leader accused the Lebanese government of putting the army in a disadvantaged position by pursuing the agreement.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's office released on Friday, Salam met with U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa and General Joseph Clearfield, head of the U.S. military coordination group in Lebanon, to discuss military progress within the framework of negotiations with Israel, along with the latest developments in southern Lebanon.
The statement said: “Salam emphasized the need to compel Israel to cease destructive activities, expand the pilot area, and provide a clear roadmap for withdrawal from Lebanese territory.”
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also held a separate meeting with the two U.S. officials. Berri said: “Israel has not yet stopped its violations and attacks against Lebanon,” referring to the destruction of villages, bulldozing of farmland, forest fires, and damage to cultural heritage sites. He stressed: “The key to stability remains compelling Israel to stop the war and withdraw to the international border.”
Ambassador Issa called the negotiations “positive” and said discussions would continue, but did not provide a specific date for the next round.
Hezbollah: “An Ongoing Humiliation”
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reacted sharply to the statements from Beirut, accusing Lebanese officials of putting the army under “undue pressure” while implementing an unviable agreement.
Qassem said: “How can you accept the ongoing humiliation of the Lebanese army, subjecting it to bombardment and pressure from Israel, instead of protecting it?” He accused Israel of trying to bind Lebanon to a monitoring mechanism that controls the deployment and internal operations of the army.
Qassem also pointed out that Israel continues to strike homes and demolish tunnels inside Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the first designated pilot area, despite the presence of the Lebanese army there. He challenged officials to “name a single achievement after seven rounds of negotiations.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Issa told reporters that Israeli attacks would only stop once Hezbollah disarms. He said: “If they give up their weapons, everything will stop.”
The trilateral framework, established in June with U.S. participation, calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, where Israel has occupied several areas. The gap between the two sides remains wide.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israel would not withdraw until Hezbollah is disarmed, as Israeli forces currently occupy several towns inside the Lebanese border. The Israeli military continues to hold areas in southern Lebanon, destroying homes and displacing people across the territory.
The next round of negotiations is expected to resume in early September. According to figures from the Lebanese government, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 4,335 people, wounded 12,277, and displaced more than one million people.
