An Israeli military vehicle covered with netting to protect against FPV drones patrols on the Lebanese side of the border, as seen from an undisclosed location on Monday. Photo by Atef Safadi/EPA
BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 13 (UPI) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must realize war will not achieve security or peace.
And he expressed hope that this week's new round of negotiations between the two countries will pave the way for the start of the Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army in southern Lebanon.
Aoun also said he will ask U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he is scheduled to meet in Washington on July 21, to exert "the necessary pressure" on Israel to implement the U.S.-brokered framework agreement reached by the Lebanese and Israeli negotiating teams June 26.
The preliminary accord provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied parts of southern Lebanon to allow the Lebanese Army to deploy and "restore effective sovereign authority," beginning with its deployment in two initial pilot zones.
