BEIRUT, April 9 – A prominent Hezbollah parliamentarian announced Thursday that his organization will not participate in face-to-face diplomatic talks with Israel, calling instead for Lebanon’s government to insist on an immediate halt to hostilities before any diplomatic progress can occur.
The statement from Ali Fayyad comes in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent announcement that he had directed his administration to pursue direct diplomatic discussions with Lebanon. Fayyad emphasized that Lebanon’s official stance should also focus on securing the removal of Israeli military forces from Lebanese soil and ensuring displaced residents can safely return to their communities.
