Lebanese president says will not yield “a single inch” of land to ‘Israel’

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday said he would not "give up" any part of Lebanon's territory, after ‘Israeli’ officials reiterated that the ‘Israeli’ military would remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah poses a "threat," without setting a timetable for withdrawal.

Aoun, according to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency, said the direct negotiations Lebanon is holding with ‘Israel’, which Hezbollah strongly opposes, "are not an act of betrayal, but rather a diplomatic war in which no blood is needlessly shed."

He said the Lebanese state had decided to enter the negotiations "to secure its rights and guarantee the Israeli withdrawal from its territory," adding that "negotiations are not betrayal, but a diplomatic war in which no blood is needlessly shed."

Aoun described the talks as "the safest and least costly option for Lebanon after all the losses it has endured," adding, "We will not give up a single inch of Lebanon's land. Judge us by our actions."

Lebanon and ‘Israel’, under US mediation, signed a framework agreement on Friday paving the way toward ending the war after five rounds of negotiations between the two, which do not maintain diplomatic relations.

The agreement calls in particular for Hezbollah's disarmament, a gradual ‘Israeli’ withdrawal from the areas it entered in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese Army, beginning with two "pilot" zones.

It also states that "the details of this process will be outlined in a security annex prepared with full U.S. support, which will complement this framework agreement." However, the annex has not yet been made public.

The agreement does not set a timetable for ‘Israel's’ withdrawal from Lebanon. ‘Israeli’ officials have repeatedly said their forces will leave only after the Iran-backed Hezbollah is disarmed.

‘Israeli’ Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that ‘Israeli’ forces would remain in "security zones" in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza "until further notice" to "protect our residents and communities from jihadist elements."

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, according to a statement and video released by his office, "We will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat is removed. As long as Hezbollah is here, armed and threatening us, we will remain here."