Beirut (Lebanon), Sept. 12 (LaPresse) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has ruled out, for the time being, the resumption of new negotiations with Israel. “At the moment, no new negotiations with Israel are underway,” Aoun said, according to local media reports. The president added that “the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of prisoners and displaced people, and reconstruction are national principles that we are committed to defending.” Aoun is in Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon, together with army commander General Rodolph Haykal, a few hours after Israel bombed the Ali Al Taher ridge in the area with more than 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy tunnels used by Iran-backed Hezbollah. According to the United States Geological Survey, the explosion caused a magnitude 4.1 earthquake in the area. Residents of Nabatieh described a powerful explosion that was felt throughout the region, with the ground shaking beneath their feet. A Lebanese source close to the negotiations said on Friday that “the time is not right for us,” following reports that a new round of talks could take place in Rome in the coming days.
Lebanon, Aoun: “No new negotiations with Israel at the moment”
Beirut (Lebanon), Sept. 12 (LaPresse) – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has ruled out, for the time being, the resumption of new negotiations with Israel. “At the moment, no new negotiations with Israel are underway,” Aoun said, according to local media reports. The president added that “the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of prisoners and displaced people, and reconstruction are national principles that we are committed to defending.” Aoun is in Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon, together with army commander General Rodolph Haykal, a few hours after Israel bombed the Ali Al Taher ridge in the area with more than 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy tunnels used by Iran-backed Hezbollah. According to the United States Geological Survey, the explosion caused a magnitude 4.1 earthquake in the area. Residents of Nabatieh described a powerful explosion that was felt throughout the region, with the ground shaking beneath their feet. A Lebanese source close to the negotiations said on Friday that “the time is not right for us,” following reports that a new round of talks could take place in Rome in the coming days.