All of Lebanon rejects normalization: PM
Lebanon’s parliament speaker recently warned that Israel is trying to ‘lure’ the country into normalization talks
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on 26 March that all Lebanese citizens reject the idea of normalization with Israel.
“No one in Lebanon wants normalization with Israel, and it is rejected by all Lebanese. The five points that Israel insists on maintaining are of no military or security value, except for continuing pressure on Lebanon,” he said. “All international and Arab diplomatic means of pressure on Israel to halt its attacks have not been exhausted,” he went on to say.
Salam also stressed “the need to mobilize Arab and international support to confront the Israeli project to displace the residents of Gaza and the West Bank.”
“The goal of the French envoy's visit is to discuss the reconstruction file and secure the necessary support,” the premier added.
His comments came as French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian started a two-day visit to Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Le Drian, stressing during the meeting the need for mediators – Washington and Paris – to pressure Israel into withdrawing its forces from Lebanon.
“Israel still occupies five hills and has not released Lebanese prisoners detained during the recent war,” Aoun said.
The meeting came a day after sources told AFP that Lebanese officials have been in “intensive contact” with the US and France to prevent any Israeli bombardment of the country’s capital, Beirut.
Israel carried out deadly airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon over the weekend, which were a response to rocket fire from the country’s south. Hezbollah, which typically claims its operations publicly, has denied any involvement in the rocket fire.
Tel Aviv has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanese territory since the truce agreement took effect in November last year, violating the deal over 1,500 times.
Israel also continues to occupy south Lebanon, saying it had received a green light from the US to remain at five posts along the border despite the ceasefire agreement that requires a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from south Lebanon.
Earlier this month, the US announced it was facilitating indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to discuss Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli jails, 13 “disputed” points along the border which Tel Aviv was meant to withdraw from years ago, and the five points occupied by Israeli forces after the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024.
“Israel intends to lure Lebanon into political negotiations with the aim of normalizing relations,” Lebanese Parliament Speaker and Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri said on Sunday.
“Lebanon has an agreement that enjoys international and Arab support, as well as endorsement from the UN, and it is implementing it and adhering to it to the letter. Israel is the one obstructing its implementation and seeking to circumvent it,” he added.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Yousef Rajji said on 22 March that Beirut is “intensifying diplomatic efforts” to ensure an “immediate and unconditional” Israeli withdrawal, ruling out any talk of normalization or direct negotiations with Israel.