Lebanese President: Israel Must Leave Our Territory

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO/Israeli attack on Lebanon/DOK © UNHCR/Dar Al Mussawir

JAKARTA - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon would not allow Israel to continue to be in its territory and would seek a full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

"In the end, we will not allow Israel to remain, even an inch, on our land, or allow any Israeli soldier to remain in our territory," President Aoun said during a meeting with a delegation of the Maronite Foundation in the World, as quoted by the presidential office, Tuesday, August 11.

He said all Lebanese people agreed on the main goals, namely the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of prisoners and the reconstruction of destroyed areas.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Aoun also said there was progress in the negotiations which he considered better than the devastating impact of the war.

The Lebanese president explained that the signing of the framework agreement had reduced the number of Israeli attacks and encouraged more Lebanese to return home in the summer.

The President stated that it was time for the southern Lebanese population to achieve stability in their homeland and fully restore the functions of the state, despite opposition.

Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington on June 26 that included provisions for a full ceasefire and the restoration of Lebanese military control over the country's south, subject to the disarmament of the Hezbollah group.

Negotiations on the implementation mechanism continued in Rome on August 6-7.

Nevertheless, Israeli attacks on Lebanon still occur almost daily. Israel still maintains a military presence in southern Lebanon that has forced most local residents to flee.