الرئيس اللبناني: لا تطبيع مع إسرائيل في الوقت الراهن

In the first reaction to the statements made by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that normalization with Israel "is out of the question in the current Lebanese foreign policy." Aoun stated before a delegation from the Arab and International Relations Council today (Friday) that "peace is a state of no war, and this is what concerns us in Lebanon at the moment; as for the issue of normalization, it is not on the table in the current Lebanese foreign policy."

Sa'ar had said on June 30 that Israel is "interested" in normalizing relations with Syria and Lebanon.

Aoun confirmed Lebanon's keenness to establish good relations with Syria, while "emphasizing non-interference in the internal affairs of either country." He reiterated the importance of Lebanese unity and the cooperation of various parties with the state, in order to protect and fortify the country and confront any potential conspiracies. Aoun affirmed that the decision regarding the exclusivity of arms has been made and is irreversible, and that the decision of war and peace falls within the jurisdiction of the Cabinet.

He praised the role played by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in contributing to stabilizing the situation, supporting efforts to rebuild the state, and achieving the principle of arms exclusivity.

For its part, the U.S. State Department confirmed that the Lebanese Hezbollah remains a dangerous organization, stating in a statement that the party continues its efforts to maintain its external presence, in a new assessment of the party's capabilities.

The statement came following a meeting held by the U.S. Departments of State and Justice, in cooperation with European police (Europol), and a law enforcement coordination group dedicated to combating Hezbollah's terrorist and illegal activities, with broad international participation.

It reported that the meeting focused on reviewing Hezbollah's capabilities to carry out terrorist operations and lethal attacks around the world, despite the significant blows it has received over the past year.

Participants emphasized that Hezbollah continues to enhance its external presence and seeks to maintain its ability to carry out surprise attacks without prior warning, making it a persistent threat to regional and international security. Participants warned that the party still poses a serious threat and continues its efforts to maintain its external presence, with the capability to launch surprise attacks without prior notice in various parts of the world. The meeting discussed the financial crisis facing the party, which may push it to expand its fundraising activities and purchase equipment, especially in the western hemisphere, Africa, and other regions, in an attempt to compensate for losses and overcome the imposed restrictions.