Aoun responds to Hezbollah: Betrayal is taking your country to war for foreign interests

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun tells a delegation from villages in southern Lebanon that negotiating with Israel “is not betrayal,” as Beirut and Jerusalem continue talks aimed at reaching a settlement and potential peace deal.

“Betrayal is carried out by those who take their country to war to serve foreign interests,” he adds, in reference to Hezbollah.

His remarks are published shortly after Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem issued a statement reiterating that the group would not give up its weapons and calling negotiations with Israel a “grave sin,” and asserting that some in Lebanon “reap gains at the expense of the destruction” of the country.

Aoun says: “How long will the people of the south continue to pay the price for the wars of others on our land? If the war were for Lebanon, we would support it — but when its purpose is to serve the interests of others, I reject the war entirely.”