Hezbollah and president clash over Israel talks, deepening divisions in Lebanon

Lebanon has been officially at war with Israel since 1948 and direct negotiations were taboo until recently, when it was exhausted by two wars between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Lebanese leaders face tough decisions, where do Aoun and Hezbollah stand, and what are the prospects for the country?

– What does Ornn want? –

Lebanese official sources told AFP on Tuesday that Aoun “negotiations are continuing… there is no turning back”.

On April 17, the day the war truce came into effect, the president said that all Lebanese “were in the same boat” and that no one should be guilty of sinking the ship.

The president said on Monday the aim of direct talks was to stop the war, ensure Israel’s withdrawal from the south, delineate borders and end “hostilities” with Israel.

Hezbollah accused the government of “capitulation” and Aoun dismissed criticism of the talks, saying those who dragged Lebanon into the conflict committed “treason.”

“The president’s statement that Hezbollah committed treason is certainly unprecedented language,” International Crisis Group researcher Heiko Wimmen told AFP.

US President Donald Trump said he hopes to host a “historic” meeting between Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Beirut pledged last year to disarm Hezbollah.

Wieman said that while Aoun and the government can negotiate with Israel, they “cannot make commitments in those negotiations that can be kept.”

Experts and politicians in Lebanon worry that if the Lebanese army faces Hezbollah militarily, it will lead to cracks in the Lebanese army. During the Lebanese Civil War in 1976, the Lebanese army was divided due to sectarian differences.

There are also concerns that the military lacks the ability to disarm the group.

The terms of the truce stipulate that “with international support,” Lebanon “will take meaningful measures to prevent Hezbollah…from any attacks on Israeli targets…” but does not specify the type of support.

– What is Hezbollah’s position? –

Hezbollah leader Naeem Qasim warned on Monday that direct talks could lead to a “spiral of instability”, adding that Hezbollah would “act as if they don’t exist… and that they have nothing to do with us”.

The group has also refused to disarm and has joined officials and supporters in openly challenging the Lebanese government and launching a campaign against Aoun.

Hezbollah is the dominant political force in Lebanon until a devastating war with Israel in 2024.

“Hezbollah has become more isolated than ever in the political arena,” said researcher and Hezbollah expert Joseph Daher, who said Hezbollah’s support base in multi-faith Lebanon is now largely limited to the Shiite community.

“The key issue is that they don’t want a peace deal,” he added, saying the group “will put pressure in the media and maybe hold demonstrations”.

In a recent interview, former Hezbollah lawmaker Nawaf Mousavi reminded Aoun of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981 for “treason” over signing a peace treaty with Israel.

– What are the prospects for Lebanon? –

“There are two diametrically opposed visions of where the country needs to go” as both sides stick to their guns, Atlantic Council analyst Nicholas Blandford told AFP.

“I don’t think either side has the ability to impose its vision on the other,” he added.

“Hezbollah’s influence and political strength are not what they once were, but the state is still fundamentally weak.”

The divisions caused by this issue are evident within Lebanon.

In east Beirut, an area free from Hezbollah influence, billboards bearing Aoun’s image and reading “The decision is Lebanese’s” have been erected.

Meanwhile, graffiti on the road to Beirut’s airport read “Against normalization” and “Aoun is a traitor, Nawaf is a traitor,” referring to the country’s prime minister.

Branford said the group may take some “street action,” similar to how Hezbollah used weapons against political opponents in 2008 after the Lebanese government shut down its independent communications network.

The decision was later reversed.

Blandford believes the government will be “more determined” this time and will not back down from negotiations.

Israel has bombed Lebanon several times since the truce, while expressing its desire to achieve a “historic peace” with Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Monday that Hezbollah was “playing with fire” and Aoun was “gambling with Lebanon’s future.”

The terms of the truce allow Israel to take action against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks” by Hezbollah.

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This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.