The Lebanese newspaper Ad-Diyar reported that Saudi envoy to Lebanon Yazid bin Farhan expressed the kingdom’s opposition to any direct contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his talks in the country.
The report comes against the backdrop of the White House’s desire to hold a call or meeting between Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. It was also noted that Aoun may visit Riyadh before his visit to Washington in the coming weeks, where he would meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to Lebanese media, bin Farhan conveyed a series of messages during his meetings in Beirut. At their center was the need to preserve Lebanese consensus and avoid internal division that could lead to violent clashes. In this context, he stressed that negotiations with Israel should be conducted cautiously, without haste, and that all positions should be unified before any move is made. The envoy also recommended maintaining the stability of the Lebanese government and suggested insisting, as a negotiating principle, that the disarmament process be made conditional on an IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Opposition to direct dialogue with Netanyahu is, of course, shared by Amal Hezbollah, alongside a series of parties and politicians who are among Aoun’s political allies. They include Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, Christian politicians Gebran Bassil and Suleiman Frangieh, and others. This issue could make it harder for Aoun to hold a meeting or dialogue with Netanyahu, as he tends not to deviate too far from the Lebanese consensus.
According to Ad-Diyar, Aoun himself stressed at a government meeting: “I never intended to speak with Netanyahu, and Lebanon is going to negotiations in order to achieve a ceasefire, a halt to the assassinations, the withdrawal of the occupation (from southern Lebanon), the start of reconstruction, the release of prisoners (Hezbollah detainees) and the deployment of the army throughout the south.” Some in the Hezbollah camp expressed support for Aoun’s remarks, but a disconnect still prevails between him and the terrorist organization.
