Lebanese President Refuses To Speak With Israeli Prime Minister

CAIRO (AP) — The president of Lebanon refused Thursday to speak with the Israeli prime minister ahead of a planned discussion that would have been the first direct conversation between the leaders of the two countries in more than 30 years, a government official told The Associated Press.

U.S. President Donald Trump had announced that the leaders would speak about halting the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

But Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declined to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a government official familiar with the developments told The Associated Press.

The government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said the remarks were made during a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that Washington “understands Lebanon’s position.”

Aoun’s office acknowledged a call with Rubio in a public statement, but did not mention the possibility of talks with Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s office did not do so either.