Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said negotiations were making progress and vowed that Israel would not be allowed to maintain a military presence on any part of Lebanese territory.
– Speaking to a delegation from the Maronite Institution for Propagation, Aoun said the ongoing negotiations were preferable to the consequences of what he described as the “destructive war” against Lebanon.
– Aoun added that the scale of Israeli attacks has been contained following the signing of a framework agreement.
– “There is no disagreement among the Lebanese on the goals,” Aoun said, listing Israeli withdrawal, the return of prisoners and the reconstruction of destroyed areas.
– “In the end, we will not allow Israel to remain, not even on a single inch of our land.”
– He added that it was time for residents of south Lebanon to live in stability rather than face continued wars fought in their name to serve “non-Lebanese objectives.”
– “My goal today is to rebuild the state, whatever the cost.”