Lebanon insists Israel must withdraw completely from its territory
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lebanon's presidency stated that progress has been made in negotiations with Israel regarding maritime border disputes.
- A framework agreement signed in June has reportedly reduced Israeli attacks, allowing Lebanese to return to their country for the summer.
- Lebanon insists Israel must withdraw completely from its territory, and will not permit any Israeli presence on its land.
Lebanon's presidency announced progress in ongoing negotiations with Israel concerning their disputed maritime border. President Joseph Avn highlighted the advancements, referencing a framework agreement signed on June 26 following the fifth round of direct talks held in Washington.
According to the presidency, the framework agreement has led to a decrease in Israeli attacks on Lebanon. This, in turn, has positively impacted the return of Lebanese citizens to spend the summer in their homeland. The statement suggests a correlation between the de-escalation of tensions and the ability of Lebanese expatriates to visit or return.
Lebanon remains firm on its core demands, which include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, the return of prisoners, and the reconstruction of destroyed areas. "We will not allow Israel to remain on even an inch of our land," Avn declared, underscoring the nation's unwavering stance on its territorial integrity.
The negotiations aim to resolve long-standing disputes, with Lebanon seeking full sovereignty and security. The reported reduction in Israeli actions is seen as a positive development, fostering a sense of stability and encouraging national unity on these key objectives.
We will not allow Israel to remain on even an inch of our land.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.