Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam indicated Sunday his nation would be willing to explore a peace deal with Israel, provided specific conditions are satisfied, though he emphasized the government’s top priority remains halting current combat and establishing a withdrawal schedule for Israeli military forces from Lebanese soil.
During a television interview with Al-Arabiya, Salam explained that ongoing discussions with Israel focus on Lebanon’s requirement for “a clear agenda for Israeli withdrawal.” He noted that Beirut’s stance continues to prioritize “stopping hostilities and ending the war.”
“The majority of Lebanese support negotiations to stop the war,” he stated.
The Prime Minister characterized Lebanon as having been unwillingly drawn into conflict, saying the country “did not choose the war, but was dragged into the confrontation between Iran and the United States.” His remarks came amid continued exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced in April, while Washington works to prevent the Lebanese conflict from expanding into a broader regional war involving Iran.
Salam described the devastation in southern Lebanon’s city of Bint Jbeil as having “become a copy of Gaza” due to extensive damage, and reported that 86 Lebanese villages remain under Israeli control. Israeli officials maintain their southern Lebanon operations target Hezbollah positions near the border to protect northern Israeli communities from future threats. Lebanese authorities insist complete Israeli military withdrawal must occur before any permanent agreement can be established.
The Lebanese administration has worked to position diplomatic efforts as a means to end warfare without characterizing it as normalization with Israel. Earlier this week, Salam stated Lebanon wants “peace, not normalization with Israel,” reiterating that a withdrawal timeline represents Beirut’s basic requirement. He also indicated Lebanon plans to consolidate weapons under government control, a stance that would directly confront Hezbollah’s autonomous military capabilities.
The two nations technically remain in a state of war with no formal diplomatic ties. Recent US-facilitated discussions in Washington have examined security frameworks, military pullbacks, and potential ceasefire structures, though Salam has indicated circumstances aren’t ready for senior-level political negotiations.
