BEIRUT, Lebanon – A growing rift between top Lebanese officials has thrown a wrench into Saudi efforts to help Lebanon’s leaders forge a united position over historic negotiations with Israel, Lebanese sources and foreign officials told Reuters on Thursday. Saudi Arabia, which sponsored the 1990 agreement that ended Lebanon’s 15-year civil war, has deepened its engagement in recent days with Lebanon, where a shaky US-brokered ceasefire has failed to fully halt the nearly two-month war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.
Ties between Riyadh and Beirut had been strained for years due to Hezbollah’s power over Lebanese politics and security, but the Sunni kingdom sees an opening after the group was severely weakened by war with Israel in 2024.The US intended for the April 16 truce between Israel and Lebanon to allow for direct talks on a peace deal, potentially shaking up Lebanon’s internal dynamics and its role in the region. But Lebanese leaders remain at odds over the negotiation format and ultimate goal. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has defended face-to-face talks with Israel in Washington, and has said the ceasefire should be transformed into “permanent agreements.”
Although he has stopped short of explicitly calling for a peace deal, two sources familiar with Aoun’s position told Reuters he had privately expressed his readiness to normalize ties with Israel to stop the war. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, is opposed to direct talks, reflecting the Shiite group’s position. Berri believes Lebanon should seek a non-aggression pact with Israel, but not a full peace deal, two Lebanese sources familiar with his position told Reuters.
...But Hezbollah and much of its broader Shiite Muslim constituency, who have borne the brunt of Israel’s attacks, are firmly opposed to face-to-face talks and to normalizing ties. Some people protesting against talks earlier this month called for the government to be toppled. Like its Iranian patron, Hezbollah seeks to destroy Israel. Saudi Arabia’s intervention with Lebanese leaders was driven by the risk of such instability – as well as its concern that Lebanon was moving toward peace with Israel too swiftly, according to a Gulf source with knowledge of the matter, two senior Lebanese political sources and the Western official. (Read More)
Although he has stopped short of explicitly calling for a peace deal, two sources familiar with Aoun’s position told Reuters he had privately expressed his readiness to normalize ties with Israel to stop the war. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, is opposed to direct talks, reflecting the Shiite group’s position. Berri believes Lebanon should seek a non-aggression pact with Israel, but not a full peace deal, two Lebanese sources familiar with his position told Reuters.
...But Hezbollah and much of its broader Shiite Muslim constituency, who have borne the brunt of Israel’s attacks, are firmly opposed to face-to-face talks and to normalizing ties. Some people protesting against talks earlier this month called for the government to be toppled. Like its Iranian patron, Hezbollah seeks to destroy Israel. Saudi Arabia’s intervention with Lebanese leaders was driven by the risk of such instability – as well as its concern that Lebanon was moving toward peace with Israel too swiftly, according to a Gulf source with knowledge of the matter, two senior Lebanese political sources and the Western official. (Read More)
