Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated in an interview with the Lebanese daily Al-Nahar that he does not intend to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the report. The remark comes amid speculation about a possible meeting between the two leaders during their expected visits to Washington.
Lebanese President Joseph Aon told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar that he has no intention of meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, directly rebutting recent speculation in the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar that the two leaders might meet at the White House.
The comment, reported Monday evening, comes amid public diplomacy regarding a possible visit by Aon to Washington — which would be the first by a Lebanese leader to the White House in over a decade — as well as an expected meeting between Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. Despite U.S. diplomatic efforts linking Israel and Lebanon, Aoun has repeatedly stated that Lebanon is conducting independent negotiations, and that settlements will not be reached at Lebanon's expense.
It is not yet clear whether the statement rules out a bilateral encounter altogether, or whether it reflects a public posture ahead of the expected visits.
2 developments
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Source and signal
- Internal intake