Lebanon Ready to Resume Direct Negotiations with Israel

JAKARTA - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has confirmed that Lebanon will continue bilateral negotiations with Israel to end hostilities and restore sovereignty.

"Bilateral negotiations will be led by Lebanon through a delegation headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, and no other party will participate in this mission on behalf of Lebanon or replace it," the presidential office said in a statement quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik/RIA Novosti-OANA, Monday, April 20.

Karam is a Lebanese diplomat who previously held a number of positions in the civilian government and has experience in international negotiations.

According to the statement, the negotiations aim to end hostilities, withdraw Israeli forces from the southern region, and place Lebanese soldiers on internationally recognized borders.

Aoun also had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, who expressed understanding of Lebanon's position and supported efforts to reach a ceasefire and start a negotiation process.

"We are faced with a choice: continue the war with all its consequences, or negotiate an end to the conflict and achieve sustainable stability. I choose the path of negotiation," Aoun was quoted as saying by his office.

The statement stressed that the upcoming negotiations will be separate from other processes, and their success depends on broad domestic support in Lebanon.

On Thursday (16/4) last, Trump stated that Aoun and the head of the Israeli Authority Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting at 21.00 GMT (04:00 WIB) as an effort to achieve peace.

Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military would control a 10-kilometer-deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon, and had no intention of meeting the demands of the Lebanese group, Hezbollah.