Salam Between Optimism and Pessimism...

Visitors to Baabda have sensed President Joseph Aoun stressing that the current phase requires the highest degree of national solidarity and a move away from escalatory rhetoric or internal divisions, because the priority is to protect Lebanon and strengthen its negotiating position.

The same was conveyed by visitors to the Grand Serail, who quoted Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as saying that he is not pessimistic about reaching a ceasefire. However, they also attributed to Salam, in response to a question in the same context, that he is not optimistic either. When the visitors pressed him to explain his position, he said that his lack of pessimism stems from the Lebanese side’s serious follow-up on the ceasefire file and the American understanding of Lebanon’s demands, set against an Israeli refusal that goes as far as linking any step in this regard to several security demands from the Lebanese state.

The visitors also spoke of Lebanese guarantees to secure an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory through the American sponsor, should the armed side in Lebanon announce that it is handing over its weapons to the Lebanese Army.