Negotiations with Israel are the only way to end the war

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji said, on Wednesday, during a hearing before the French National Assembly, that direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel are the only way to end the war.

The minister said before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, “Hezbollah is doing everything in its power to prevent these direct negotiations,” adding, “But for the Lebanese state, and for the government, this is the only way to try to find a comprehensive solution to the problem,” calling for realism and stressing that the military option “has proven ineffective.”

The Lebanese minister, who is against Hezbollah and its supporter Iran, continued, “The so-called resistance led by Hezbollah did not liberate Jerusalem, did not save Gaza, and did not even defend Lebanon. On the contrary, it pushed us into more violence and more Israeli occupation.”

He described Hezbollah’s argument, which says it is defending “the country against the Israeli occupation,” as “absurd.”

Israel re-occupied large parts of southern Lebanon after the outbreak of the latest war on March 2, and is carrying out bombing and destroying operations in many border villages.

Raji said, “The Israelis must withdraw, Hezbollah must disarm, and then begin reconstruction according to this arrangement,” calling on France to put pressure on Israel and Iran.