Hezbollah Calls for an End to Direct Talks Between Lebanon and Israel: Their Results Are Below Zero

- The Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Naeem Qassem, called on the government in Lebanon to stop direct talks with Israel, describing their results as "below zero, not zero." Qassem's remarks came on the second anniversary of the assassination of the former Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. He addressed the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, stating that it was a "shameful concession by the Lebanese authority of all the cards that this authority could possess and benefit from in an attempt to secure Lebanon's rights."

Qassem continued: "The authority has tried direct negotiations in seven rounds; what was the result? I don't know if there is anything below zero, below zero and not zero, in these different rounds."

They say: the president has the right to negotiate, and he is exercising his right." He continued: "True, the president has the right to negotiate, but he does not have the right to violate the constitution, the Taif Agreement, the oath of office, and the ministerial statement, nor to concede Lebanon's right and its people and army's right to defend their land, and to concede the right to prosecute the occupier.

He is primarily responsible for working to protect sovereignty without compromise. No one can come to expressions until it becomes clear that the idea is a failure."

The Secretary-General of the Iran-backed group also added: "We call for an end to concessions; we call for a review and correction of the negotiating path. Freeze the direct talks and move to indirect ones," referring to the direct negotiations with Israel.

The Lebanese government signed the framework agreement with Israel in the American capital, Washington, under the sponsorship and mediation of the United States, in June 2026. The agreement concerns the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon along with the disarmament of Hezbollah and armed groups and their handover to the army.