Nakhla Adimi – Call of the Nation
The countdown to the start of the third round of direct preliminary negotiations has begun next week in Washington.
According to the information, the date of the meeting will be held over two days, Thursday and Friday of next week, with the participation of former ambassador Simon Karam, who participated in Baabda Palace in two lengthy meetings in preparation for the next round. Ambassador Nada Hamada Moawad and Chargé d’Affairs Wissam Boutros will also participate. The sources reveal that if the Israeli side decides to add a military person to the delegation, Lebanon will accompany the step by including a military figure, who is supposed to be the Lebanese military attaché in Washington, Oliver Hakmeh.
Sources accompanying the meeting consider that it will be of great importance and will determine many outstanding matters, most notably the establishment of the ceasefire in word and deed, speaking of an American effort to reduce the Israeli escalation in preparation for establishing the ceasefire and moving to the second negotiating step.
Trump wants Aoun and Netanyahu together
The sources expected that this round would be followed by another meeting that would pave the way for the expected visit of President Joseph Aoun to Washington. Senior Western diplomatic sources reveal to “Nidaa Al-Watan” that the specific date for this visit has not been decided yet, and the presidential palace departments have not been informed of anything new on this line, but the visit will take place and will be pivotal. When asked about the President of the Republic’s intention to accept the invitation and go to Washington if the scenario presented to him was a meeting with the American President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the sources said: “After President Aoun’s enemy, go back and forth.” Western diplomatic sources confirmed that the efforts were initially centered around Aoun visiting Washington and meeting with Trump only, without Netanyahu, and this is what the Republican Palace was informed of. However, the surprise came with the American President announcing a meeting he wanted between Aoun and Netanyahu in his presence, and this is what mixed the cards and surprised everyone.
The sources confirmed that such a meeting, if it takes place, will be very useful and will establish a stage in which Lebanon obtains its full rights, which will be agreed upon during the meeting, including the restoration of lands, the return of prisoners, and an understanding about a security agreement that precedes achieving peace. The sources also announced their understanding of the Lebanese position of reservations about meeting Netanyahu at this time.
The Republican Palace is waiting
In any case, the atmosphere at Baabda Palace is waiting, and it has not yet been informed of any specific date, and is awaiting the results that will result from the third round of direct negotiations to determine the final position, knowing that going to Washington is welcome, desired, and expected if the meeting will be limited to the American President and no one else.
On the Israeli side, after information was circulated late last month about the possibility of Netanyahu visiting Washington on May 11, no official confirmations were issued in this regard. Indeed, Netanyahu’s office denied a few days ago that there were currently plans in place for this visit.
The Lebanese file is also anticipating the US-Iranian negotiations, which, if they are able to achieve progress, may lead to curbing Iranian arms in the region, led by Hezbollah, and this will open a door within the framework of establishing legitimacy at the expense of weapons outside legitimacy. Hence, next week will be very delicate and may decide Lebanese trends in light of developments in Washington and Islamabad.
Threats of opposition to Aoun!
As for the prank of threats directed by some symbols of the opposition and its tools to President Aoun, a senior politician laughs when talking about the threat to prevent Aoun from returning to Beirut if he goes to Washington and meets with Netanyahu, and he responds, saying: “This matter falls within the framework of political intimidation and is a big burden on our necks.”
In anticipation, it seems that next week will not be just a passing negotiating station, but rather a real test of Lebanon’s position on the map of new regional transformations. Between Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv, the covenant is facing a delicate and unenviable moment in which sovereignty calculations are intertwined with internal balances and external pressures. If Aoun refuses to go to Washington and meet Netanyahu, if Trump insists, Lebanon will lose American support and the country will face a stage of military and political madness. If he accepts, the confrontation will be open and without gloves with the resistance axis in Lebanon.
Until then, we just have to watch and wait.
