Salam heads to Damascus… and Berri sets his conditions for direct negotiations

The track between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah appears to be facing growing complexity, amid a clear wobble in negotiations and the absence of any decisive horizon so far, while the ceasefire south of the Litani remains fragile and is almost collapsing on the ground, according to informed sources.

In this context, high-pitched political positions are moving to the forefront, particularly between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, reflecting the scale of divergence in approaching the current phase.

Diplomatic sources pointed to Saudi support for the negotiating track led by President Aoun, while differences have been recorded in the positions emerging from عين التينة regarding the form of negotiations, with information indicating that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is making any direct negotiating path conditional on a withdrawal, a halt to the aggression, the release of prisoners, and the return of residents to the south.

On another front, the meeting of the three presidents has been postponed until Wednesday as a preliminary date. The meeting is expected to discuss ways to strengthen the role of the state and fortify the domestic front, alongside reaffirming the authority of the Taif Agreement and the fate of the ongoing negotiating track.

By contrast, diplomatic sources speak of criticism directed at the president’s handling of the negotiation file from some Hezbollah parties, while informed circles indicate that statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz — in which he said President Aoun is “gambling with the country’s future” — reflect external pressure demanding practical steps that go beyond political positions toward measures that curb the party’s influence.

In a parallel development, Al Jadeed has learned that preparations are under way for an anticipated visit by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Syria, where he is expected to meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss issues of common concern between the two countries, amid ongoing security coordination between the relevant agencies on the Syrian displaced persons file in preparation for an organized return in the coming phase.

Political sources also noted the visit by former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt to Damascus and his meeting with President al-Sharaa. The protocol atmosphere surrounding the meeting drew attention, particularly al-Sharaa’s decision not to sit in the presidential chair during the talks, in what was seen as carrying symbolic significance, while the Syrian side stressed keeping Lebanese-Syrian relations within their official institutional framework.