Published On 4/29/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday that he coordinated and consulted with the Speakers of the House of Representatives and the Government in every step he took regarding negotiations with Israel, while the media office of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri saw Aoun’s words as “inaccurate.”
Aoun responded to the criticism regarding agreeing to give Israel the freedom to continue its attacks on Lebanon through the American statement issued after the tripartite talks in Washington between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States, saying that this was stated in a statement issued by the US State Department, and it is consistent with a previous agreement between Hezbollah and Israel.
He explained in a statement, following a meeting with economic bodies, that the US State Department’s statement was consistent with the text of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in November 2024 (which ended months of fighting against the backdrop of the war in Gaza), which was agreed upon by all parties at the time.
Aoun added that Lebanon is making every effort to reach a solution to the current situation away from violence and blood, and that this solution is achieved through negotiations.
Intensive communications
He pointed out that there are many difficulties facing them to achieve stability, and that they are conducting intensive contacts to mitigate the Israeli attacks, warning that these attacks should not continue after the declaration of a ceasefire.
Aoun stated that Lebanon is now waiting for a date to be set by the United States to begin negotiations, stressing that all European Union countries and Arab countries support Beirut’s option in negotiations, and that Lebanon is witnessing a consensus among the people, including the people of the south, on the necessity of ending the war.
He warned that the Lebanon issue is today on the table of US President Donald Trump, who “praised Lebanon and its people in a phone call between us.”
Aoun pointed out that this development represents an opportunity for the Lebanese today, and that they must take advantage of it to cross the country to the shore of safety and peace.
Regarding the Israeli escalation, he said that if Israel believes that it can achieve security through violations and destruction of border villages, then it is wrong, because it has tried that before and did not reach a result.
Security road
He added that Israel must realize once and for all that the only path to security is through negotiations, but it must first fully implement the ceasefire in order to then move to negotiations.
Aoun believed that the only thing that can protect the borders is when the Lebanese state, with all its strength, is present in the entire south and even the international borders.
Nabih Berri responded
On the other hand, the media office of the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, explained that “the words stated by the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, before the economic bodies are inaccurate.”
The media office said in a statement, “The words that were reported are inaccurate, if we say otherwise, and also with regard to the (November) 2024 agreement and the subject of the negotiations.”
Last Thursday, President Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire for 3 weeks, after it began on April 17, between Hezbollah and Israel, following a new round of talks in the White House between the ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel.
