Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that Beirut is pursuing peace and stability rather than normalization with Israel amid ongoing regional tensions.
Speaking to journalists, Salam said talk of any possible meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "premature,” adding that "any high-level meeting with the Israeli side requires major preparations.”
"Lebanon is not seeking normalization with Israel, but rather peace,” Salam said, noting: "This is not the first time Lebanon has engaged in direct negotiations with Israel.”
He added that consolidating the cease-fire "will form the basis for any new round of negotiations that could be held in Washington,” while stressing that current conditions "are still not mature enough to discuss meetings at a high level.”
Salam said Lebanon’s "minimum demand is a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal,” adding that authorities will develop a plan to place weapons exclusively under state control.
