President Joseph Aoun told N12 that he could not stand by and watch Lebanon be dragged into the abyss for another country's interests, explaining his decision to pursue a framework agreement with Israel. He added that he expects his upcoming White House meeting with President Donald Trump to yield positive results for Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun elaborated on his decision to pursue a framework agreement with Israel in an interview with N12 on Wednesday afternoon, saying he could not stand by while Lebanon was 'dragged into the abyss' for another country's interests. He also expressed hope that his upcoming White House meeting with President Donald Trump would yield positive results for Lebanon.
The interview, published at 13:56 Jerusalem, follows The Zioneer's earlier bulletin at 13:55, which quoted Aoun saying he chose negotiations to stop the 'Israeli destruction machine.' The president's remarks come as he prepares for a White House visit on July 21, as reported by Reuters and confirmed by The Zioneer at 04:59 Wednesday.
Aoun has been steadily building domestic support for the framework agreement, including a lobbying blitz with bar associations across Lebanon, as reported on July 1. He has previously stated that he is 'not in love with Israel' but challenged opponents to propose a viable alternative.
The exact terms of the framework agreement have not been fully disclosed, and the White House visit has not been officially confirmed by either government.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake