Middle East Monitor / April 14, 2026
A senior Lebanese Hezbollah official said on Monday that the group will not abide by any agreements resulting from direct talks between Lebanon and Israel being held in the United States, stressing its firm rejection of the negotiations.
The remarks were made by Rafic Safa, a senior member of Hezbollah’s political council, ahead of expected talks in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.
The discussions would mark the first direct meeting in decades between representatives of the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations.
Speaking to Associated Press (AP), Safa said: “Whatever results from these negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we have nothing to do with it and it does not concern us in any way.”
In a rare interview with international media, he added: “We will not be bound by what they agree on.”
His comments came as he stood near a cemetery while an Israeli drone was flying overhead.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had approved holding direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had launched an initiative on 9 March aimed at ending renewed Israeli escalation against Lebanon. The proposal includes a full ceasefire, a halt to all Israeli attacks, support for the Lebanese army, the army taking control of tension areas and confiscating weapons there, as well as the start of negotiations with Israel.
