Israel must implement the ceasefire “fully” before negotiations

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday that Israel must implement the ceasefire with Hezbollah “fully” before direct negotiations between the two countries begin, noting that Beirut is waiting for Washington to set a date for their start.

A presidential statement quoted Aoun as saying, “Israel must realize once and for all that the only path to security is through negotiations, but it must first fully implement the ceasefire in order to then move to negotiations,” adding, “It is not permissible for the Israeli attacks to continue as they are after the ceasefire is announced.”

He continued, “We are now waiting for a date to be set by the United States to begin direct negotiations” with Israel, after the two countries held, under American sponsorship, two meetings at the ambassadorial level in Washington.