Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Sunday that Lebanon remains open to a formal peace agreement with Israel, provided specific conditions are satisfied. <\/p>\n
Speaking in an interview with Al-Arabiya, Salam emphasized that his government\u2019s immediate priority is the cessation of active hostilities and a definitive conclusion to the ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister\u2019s comments come amid a fragile ceasefire that took effect last month, following a period of intense cross-border violence.<\/p>\n
Salam revealed that current diplomatic efforts are focused on establishing a concrete framework for the removal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. He noted that negotiations currently include Lebanon\u2019s demand for “a clear agenda for Israeli withdrawal.”<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister also suggested that Lebanon has been used as a battlefield for foreign interests. He stated that Lebanon “did not choose the war, but was dragged into the confrontation between Iran and the United States.”<\/p>\n
Despite the influence of various factions within the country, Salam maintained that there is a broad domestic consensus in favor of a diplomatic resolution. “The majority of Lebanese support negotiations to stop the war,” he asserted.<\/p>\n
Salam\u2019s comments come ahead of another round of talks<\/a> between Israel and Lebanon, which the US will host in Washington this coming Thursday. The State Department said on Friday that the meeting will build on the April 23 round of talks, which was led personally by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n After the April 23 meeting which was attended by Israel\u2019s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon\u2019s Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Trump expressed hope<\/a> that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon would be possible this year.<\/p>\n Trump also said he hopes to host a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington within the next few weeks.<\/p>\n