Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon-Israel Washington Talks, Refuses to Abide by Agreements

Hezbollah categorically rejected the direct Lebanon-Israel talks taking place in Washington.

“Hezbollah official says the group won’t abide by any agreements from Lebanon-Israel talks in the US Hezbollah official says the group won’t abide by any agreements from Lebanon-Israel talks in the US BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah will not abide by any agreements that may result from the direct Lebanon-Israel talks in the United States, negotiations it firmly opposes, a senior Hezbollah official said Monday”

Associated Press

Wafiq Safa told the Associated Press that we are not bound by what they agree to.

Associated Press

The talks mark the first face-to-face meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys in decades.

The Israel-Hezbollah war has killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon since March 2.

Safa framed Hezbollah's entry into the war as preemptive.

The group dismissed Israeli claims that its strikes killed more than 250 Hezbollah militants in Beirut.

The Lebanese government is moving to separate Lebanon's official diplomacy from Hezbollah's influence.

Rajji told i24NEWS that the Lebanese state is the only authority authorized to negotiate on its behalf.

BBC

The government has instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut exclusively to state institutions.

Hezbollah views the talks as a political concession extracted under military coercion.

The divide between the government and Hezbollah has grown increasingly tense.

Netanyahu has insisted that the talks focus on Hezbollah's disarmament.

“"(CNN) -- The leader of the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah urged the Lebanese government to reject the planned talks with Israel tomorrow, describing them as 'absurd”

CNN Arabic

Israel is continuing military operations against the group in parallel.

Netanyahu said there will be no ceasefire with Hezbollah even as talks proceed.

Pressure from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar was placed on Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to quell Hezbollah protests.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that the meeting would lead to broader direct negotiations and a permanent ceasefire.

i24NEWS