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Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, has labelled Hezbollah as the “problem” between his country and Lebanon.
The Israeli minister made the claim at a news conference before the commencement of discussions between Israeli and Lebanese envoys, which are expected to take place in Washington on Tuesday. He claimed that Israel is seeking “peace and normalisation” with Lebanon.
“Israel and Lebanon don’t have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah,” Saar said at a news conference.
“The problem for Israel’s security is the problem for Lebanon’s sovereignty,” the minister said, adding that “the same problem” is Hezbollah.
Since early March, over 2,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks, and more than one million people have been displaced.
According to Al Jazeera, Tuesday’s meeting between Lebanon and Israel is the first of its kind since 1993 and will be mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US participating.
Foreign ministers from 17 countries have, however, urged Israel and Lebanon to “seize this opportunity”.
The ministers said that “direct negotiations can pave the way to bring lasting security for Lebanon and Israel as well as the region”.
