The Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar published leaked documents from the US-mediated Israel-Lebanon talks, alleging that President Joseph Aoun's negotiating team initially insisted on wording that included 'Israeli withdrawal' and 'evacuation of all Lebanese territory,' but later accepted a revised Israeli draft, according to the report.
The Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar this morning published what it says are leaked documents from the US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, held in Washington. According to the report, early drafts of the memorandum of understanding in April explicitly included the phrases 'Israeli withdrawal' and 'evacuation of all Lebanese territory.' However, the newspaper claims that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's team eventually backed down and accepted a revised version presented by the Israeli side.
The leak has sparked a political storm in Beirut, with critics aligned with Hezbollah accusing Aoun of negotiating from a weak position and conceding on territorial sovereignty. The Zioneer has previously tracked the negotiations, which have included multiple rounds of conflicting reports over the terms of an Israeli withdrawal. Earlier this month, the desk reported that Aoun had conditioned continued talks on an IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and that Iran had demanded a full Israeli withdrawal. The new leak, if accurate, would indicate that the Lebanese side made significant concessions on the wording of the withdrawal demand.
The documents have not been independently verified, and neither the Israeli government nor the Lebanese presidency has issued an official response to the leak.
- DevelopingLebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar lists four Israeli demands in fifth round of Washington talks with Lebanon
- DevelopingLebanese source: Aoun, Rubio agree on full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon
- DevelopingReport: US struggles to convince Israel to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon
- DevelopingHezbollah-linked outlet: Iran secured US final approval for Lebanon's inclusion in wide deal
Source and signal
- Internal intake