Salam Clarifies Framework Is Negotiation Tool, Not Treaty with Israel

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed concerns over the term "framework agreement," stating it could cause confusion. He clarified that the discussion is not about a treaty or agreement but rather a trilateral framework designed to guide the negotiation process and define its objectives.

In an interview with LBCI, Salam explained that this framework serves as a negotiation mechanism to reach an agreement, rather than being an agreement itself. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between these two to avoid misunderstandings about the nature of the negotiations.

Salam noted that Lebanon did not enter this process as an inexperienced party in negotiations but as a result of two wars that caused significant human and material losses. He stated that the first war inflicted direct damages exceeding seven billion dollars, excluding economic losses estimated at around thirteen billion dollars.

He added that the second war resulted in over five thousand fatalities, describing it as a retaliatory conflict linked to Khamenei. Salam affirmed that the primary goal of the negotiation track is to halt the ongoing losses and enable the people of southern Lebanon to return to their homes.

Concluding, Salam affirmed that implementing the proposed framework would lead to Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territories and facilitate the safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their villages and homes, which remains a priority for the Lebanese government.