Egypt Affirms Support for Lebanon Amid Escalating Tensions with Israel
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Egypt has affirmed its support for Lebanon amidst rising tensions with Israel. Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atti stated that Cairo supports any path leading to de-escalation.
In an interview, Abdel-Atti emphasized Egypt’s backing for diplomatic and political efforts to eliminate the threat of aggression against Lebanon and foster stability. He noted the existing ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Tel Aviv, highlighting Lebanon’s commitment to its terms.
The Egyptian official affirmed Lebanon’s seriousness in implementing the ceasefire agreement and mentioned cooperation with the U.S. to reduce tensions and focus on diplomatic approaches to support the government’s plan.
Egypt has been involved in the Lebanese issue following direct encouragement from the U.S. While Cairo had previously proposed a plan addressing the issue of weapons in Lebanon, specifically regarding Hezbollah, it recently adopted a more assertive tone, warning Lebanon of potential repercussions if U.S. and Israeli demands, particularly concerning Hezbollah’s disarmament, are not met.
The renewed expression of support from Egypt’s Foreign Minister comes after Lebanon’s presidency appointed Simon Karam, the former ambassador to the U.S., as the head of the Lebanese delegation to the ceasefire monitoring committee. This appointment has sparked considerable controversy, with Israeli factions attempting to portray it as a move towards normalization.
Lebanese sources reported that the Lebanese delegation adhered to the principle of not engaging in direct negotiations with the enemy during a recent meeting. These sources also noted that the presence of a civilian, Simon Karam, in the Lebanese delegation was not unexpected, as American officials had signaled the agreement of Lebanese authorities to include civilians and broaden the committee’s mandate to technical matters like prisoner releases and border demarcation since the previous October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that the meeting resulted in an agreement to develop ideas for enhanced economic cooperation between Lebanon and Israel following Hezbollah’s disarmament. However, a prominent Lebanese source, speaking to Al-Jumhuriya newspaper, refuted these claims, asserting that no direct political or economic negotiations or steps towards normalization with Tel Aviv occurred during the committee meeting. The appointment of a civilian head to the Lebanese delegation does not signify a submission to Israeli demands, the source stated.
