Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed that "Lebanon cannot sign any agreement that does not include a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. Nor can we accept what is being called a buffer zone, or any Israeli presence that does not allow displaced Lebanese to return, and that does not permit the reconstruction of the destroyed villages and towns."
He told The Washington Post: "We are entering these talks under U.S. sponsorship because we are convinced it is the party capable of influencing Israel. Its role was essential in reaching the ceasefire, and we hope it will continue to exert that influence."
He added: "I do not know what we can achieve through negotiations, but I do know what we want," and asked: "Should we take this path? Yes, absolutely, because we do not want to leave any means unused in pursuing our goals."
In response to a question, he noted that "the government has taken bold decisions and made progress by confiscating weapons and preventing military operations," stressing that "the state's monopoly on arms is in Lebanon's interest."
He pointed out that "the only way to disarm Hezbollah is to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Army," stressing that "disarmament is a process, not something that happens overnight. What matters most is that we have shown seriousness," and affirming that "the government will not yield to intimidation."
