Aoun: Military Solutions Will Never Bring Peace to Northern Israel
“Military solutions” will never bring security and safety to Israelis living in the north of their country, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said, urging Israelis to solve disputes through negotiations instead.
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Aoun asked Israeli people whether they “really want to live” in “perpetual war,” adding that the state of hostility between Israel and Lebanon must end “forever.”
Lebanon and Israel have technically been in a state of war since Israel’s establishment in 1948. The latest conflict – began after Hezbollah fired rockets on Israeli cities in retaliation for an assault by the US and Israel on Iran, which killed the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his senior military command.
In just three months, the Israeli military operation has killed more than 3,500 people, displaced a fifth of Lebanon’s population and established a buffer zone by occupying large areas of southern Lebanon, while 28 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed (to negotiations to end the war),” Aoun said. “If you are not, you will never live in peace, safety and security.”
Aoun has not ruled out meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in what would be the first meeting between leaders of the two countries. But on the potential meeting, he added. “Not before reaching an agreement (to end the war).”
The president said earlier in the interview that Netanyahu, along with Hezbollah, are waging a “futile war” that will never lead to their “desired outcome.”
The former military commander said the Lebanese and Israeli people have a “great opportunity” to live in safety and security.
“They are both fed up with war since 1948,” he said. “This is a huge opportunity (and) they both have to choose: war…or diplomacy.”
