Bikfaya, Lebanon — The former Lebanese president, who once signed a short-term deal to end the decades-long state of war with Israel, now says the time is right to try again.
Amin Gemayel spoke to The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday first direct conversation between lebanon and Israel since the 1980s, as they have been exploring what might lead to a security settlement or eventual normalization of relations. He is part of one of Lebanon’s strongest political dynasties, having founded the Christian Phalange party, which held powerful positions for decades.
Gemayel, 84, who rarely speaks to international media, acknowledged that much has changed since Lebanese leaders resumed talks with Israel. fragile armistice Holds. Israeli army protests in anger as discussion in Washington attack Southern Lebanon continues, and parts of Beirut are recovering Devastating Israeli bombing Earlier this month.
For one, Iranian-backed Hezbollah was founded only during Gemayel’s presidency and has since been far from a powerful armed and political presence. Hezbollah opposes direct negotiations with Israel and believes Lebanon should support Iran in negotiations with the United States, as Tehran has more leverage.
But Hezbollah has suffered major setbacks and he supports its disarmament, Gemayel said. The group’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened by Israel’s attacks in Lebanon over the past two years. And most of the open border crossings used to transport weapons closed after Islamist-led armed opposition groups ousted longtime supporter Bashar Assad from power in Syria.
Regional circumstances have also changed, Gemayel said.
He said, “In my time, discussing a peace agreement with Israel was an unforgivable capital crime.”
He now believes there is greater openness in the region and pointed to direct talks with Syria as well as Israel abraham accordsWhere a handful of Arab countries, notably the United Arab Emirates, established diplomatic relations with Israel.
When Gemayel was sworn in in 1982 at the age of 40, he was Lebanon’s youngest ever president. The country was in the midst of a devastating 15-year civil war, occupied by both Syrian and Israeli troops.
They decided to enter US-mediated direct negotiations with Israel through a State Department official, and reached an agreement in May 1983 that included ending the state of war that had existed between the countries since Israel’s establishment in 1948. Israeli troops will withdraw from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troops will be deployed there.
Despite the support of Ronald Reagan, US President at the time, and the Lebanese Parliament voting overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement, it never went into effect. Gemayel blamed his allies in Syria and Lebanon, who were critical of any negotiations with Israel from the beginning, as well as Israel itself.
Gemayel said, “Although we had completed negotiations and reached the signing stage, Israel still tried to impose a clause outside the framework of the agreement, which was the simultaneous withdrawal of Syrian forces in Lebanon. So Israeli forces will not withdraw until the Syrians withdraw.”
“It gave the Syrian military a veto on the agreement … and created a public climate of suspicion that (then-Syrian President Hafez) Assad and his entourage had created.”
But now, Gemayel said, Lebanon’s leaders must seek a long-term peace deal. Even the armistice signed in 1949 to bring peace to the border that had been tense for 18 years could be a good step, as long as it keeps the country in one piece.
President Joseph Aoun has said he is seeking an agreement similar to the 1949 accords, not full normalization of relations with Israel.
The move by Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salaam to engage in direct talks with Israel received both widespread support and criticism in the deeply divided country. Officials have said negotiations are the only way to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops and bring long-term peace.
Gemayel said, “The Lebanese government has the opportunity to negotiate to reach a solution that achieves peace, security and stability in Lebanon.”
“It will also satisfy the sentiments of the Lebanese people who yearn for a minimum of peace, tranquility, stability and an end to the war.”
During this latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which began two days after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, more than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than a million displaced.
Israeli troops remain in large parts of southern Lebanon and continue to clash with Hezbollah fighters despite a nominal ceasefire in force. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.
Lebanese have largely been critical of Hezbollah’s decision to launch rockets at Israel on March 2, but they have also become alarmed by Israeli bombings and ground offensives.
Gemayel said the situation remains complex, especially in a “boiling region” suffering serious security and economic fallout from the Iran war.
“We’ll have to see how far we can go,” he said. “We trust General Aoun to enter into negotiations while maintaining the interests of the country and the unity of Lebanon. And he knows how far he can go in negotiations.”
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Associated Press senior producer Malak Harb in Bikfaya, Lebanon, contributed to this report.
