US President Donald Trump said this Thursday (16) that the prospect of a meeting at the White House between Israel and Lebanon is “very exciting”, expressing optimism that the two sides can reach a peace agreement.
“I think we will have a meeting,” he told reporters, adding that it could take place at the White House “in the next week or two weeks.”
The meeting, according to him, would be the first in 44 years.
Trump’s invitation came shortly after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, which he called “a great package for about a week.”
If the two countries reach a permanent truce, Trump said the deal would include Hezbollah.
“I think we will have an agreement with Lebanon, and they will take care of Hezbollah,” he said, adding that he would be open to visiting Lebanon “at the right time.”
Hezbollah will respect ceasefire if Israel does not attack, official tells CNN
Israeli attacks cease, he declared to CNN parliamentarian Ibrahim Moussawi, one of the main members of the Lebanese group.
According to a publication by Donald Trump, who announced the pause in fighting, the ceasefire will come into effect at 6pm this Thursday (16), Brasília time.
“As long as the Israeli occupation forces cease their aggression and do not violate the ceasefire, we are committed to it. The ceasefire must cover the entire Lebanese territory, restrict their movements and serve as a starting point for the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory,” Moussawi said.
Moussawi pointed out that Iran had informed Hezbollah leaders about the ceasefire before the announcement.
Iran demands that Israel stop attacking Lebanon, which is a precondition for an agreement to end the war with the United States. This demand has generated criticism from the Lebanese government, which accuses the Iranian regime of violating its sovereignty and negotiating “in its name”.
The Lebanese government, which has promised to disarm Hezbollah, held high-level talks with Israeli authorities on Tuesday (14), but insists on a ceasefire as a precondition for new negotiations.
Hezbollah said it opposes negotiations between the two countries. “We have made it very clear that we reject any direct negotiations between the two sides,” Moussawi told CNN.
