JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Lebanese sources reported on Thursday that Lebanon faces a US ultimatum to establish civilian committees for negotiations with Israel by the end of this month.
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According to the reports, Morgan Ortagus, Deputy U.S. envoy to the Middle East, spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, delivering a clear message: If Lebanon refuses the proposal, Washington may “withdraw from the oversight committee and grant Israel operational freedom”.
Sources familiar with the details revealed that “the deadline given to Lebanon for starting negotiations is non-negotiable,” and the Americans are pushing for immediate talks under the existing framework. The reports explain that this American move is part of Washington’s efforts to expand the scope of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel beyond military issues alone.
According to Lebanese officials, the U.S. is asking to form “diplomatic working groups” focusing on three main issues:
- Release of Lebanese prisoners
- Israeli withdrawal from five points and 13 disputed border areas along the “Blue Line”
- Resolution of remaining border disputes
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji declared that “Lebanon’s position is clear in its opposition to any form of normalization,” stressing that “Lebanon will not agree to direct political negotiations with Israel.”
The reports from Lebanon highlight the difficult dilemma facing the Lebanese government: on one hand, fear of further Israeli escalation if it rejects the American proposal — and on the other, fierce internal opposition to any step that might be seen as normalization with Israel.
On Lebanese social media, especially on Twitter (X) and Instagram, there’s strong opposition to the idea of normalization from users aligned with Hezbollah and the pro-Iranian camp. Many users refer to Israel as the “Zionist enemy” and view any talk of normalization as treason against “the resistance’s values.”
For example, according to a report by the “Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center,” Hezbollah supporters are spreading campaigns under hashtags like #لبنان_ضد_التطبيع (“Lebanon against normalization”), emphasizing the continuation of the fight against Israel as part of Lebanese identity. One user wrote: “Anyone who thinks of peace with the occupier forgets the blood of our martyrs.”
However, more moderate voices — mainly among Christians, Sunnis, and Druze — are expressing weariness from the wars and seeking a solution for stability. One notable voice on X, who gained attention in 2024, wrote: “Hezbollah holds us hostage, this war isn’t the will of the people. Peace with Israel could be possible if we break free from them.”
Skepticism is also visible among non-Hezbollah-affiliated users. One anonymous user posted on X: “Normalization with Israel? That’s an illusion. As long as Iran controls us through Hezbollah, there’s no chance.”
Lebanese diplomatic sources estimate that a possible proposal from the Lebanese president might be to include civilian experts in the existing military oversight committee — similar to the model used during the maritime border negotiations — to avoid fully rejecting the American proposal on one hand, while not fully accepting it on the other.
Why does Israel have to withdraw? The Arabs attacked and lost land. Maybe Israel should take over the whole of Lebanon and put an end to Hezbollah.
This article is re.. Lebanon.
Re.Gaza : The State of Israel , over the past five decades , had been protective over Yishmaeilim,( in many ways : from granting Arabs Israeli citizenship to EQUAL rights, etc.etc.etc..
All Fiascos , blunders that had taken lots of Yidden out of this world.
President Trump , had he been the leader of E. Yisrul ,would do a Much Much better Job : in the way of Saving , projecting, supporting ,looking after our Yidden