From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 20, 2026
Lebanon’s Aoun: I have chosen to negotiate with Israel ‘to save Lebanon’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun tells lawmakers that talks with Israel “are separate from any other negotiations,” a reference to US-Iran ceasefire discussions.
Iran insists that any agreement with the US would prohibit Israel from attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Lebanon, says Aoun, faces two options: “either the continuation of the war with all its humanitarian, social, economic, and sovereignty repercussions, or negotiations to put an end to this war and achieve sustainable stability.”
“I have chosen negotiation,” says Aoun, according to his office, “and I am full of hope that we will be able to save Lebanon.”
He stresses that Lebanon’s negotiating team will be headed by former envoy to Washington Simon Karam, who will not be replaced — a reference to domestic fights over the makeup of Lebanon’s delegation. Aoun says that the talks with Israel are meant to stop Israeli operations, end the IDF presence in Lebanon, and allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy along the Lebanon-Israel border.
US President Donald Trump expressed support for Lebanon’s aims in Thursday’s phone call between the leaders, says Aoun.
Aoun does not indicate whether he is going to meet with Trump or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the near future.
The Times of Israel Community.