Lebanon's Shiite duo (Hezbollah and the Amal Movement) refused the inclusion of civilians in the delegation tasked with negotiating maritime border demarcation with Israel, which revealed difference with President Michel Aoun, however, without hindering the initiation of the first round of talks that took place on Wednesday.
The Shiite duo’s stance, which was announced hours before the first meeting, stems from its apprehension that talks might go beyond the agreed framework, according to the duo’s sources, who did not address the points of contention with the president. Aoun announced the delegation on Monday which includes two officers and two civilians.
However, other sources close to March 8 forces talked about “deep disagreements between the president and the Shiite duo.”
They told Asharq Al-Awsat that the duo continued to press the president to adjust the delegation until minutes before the statement was issued at midnight on Tuesday, but Aoun “maintained his stance and did not comply with these requests” that are in line with the framework announced by Speak Nabih Berri two weeks ago.
The sources added that Hezbollah, which contributed to the effort to change Aoun’s mind, had expected him to do so, however, he refused.
Hezbollah and Amal considered that the formation of the Lebanese delegation in the form presented, which includes civilian figures, violates the framework agreement and the content of the April Understanding of 1996, which had provided the framework for the indirect talks between soldiers from the Lebanese and Israeli sides under the auspices of the United Nations in Naqoura.
The duo went on to demand “the immediate reformation of the Lebanese delegation per the framework agreement.”
Member of the Development and Liberation Bloc Deputy Ayoub Hmayyed explained that the demands to limit the delegation to military officials “aims to entrench our right and affirm this Lebanese right to the economic zone based on the land points as determined by border demarcation between Lebanon and occupied Palestine in 1923, when the French and British mandates were governing the region.”
Hmayyed stressed that “the insistence on a military delegation and the absence of civilian aims to avoid luring the Israeli enemy with additional steps.”
On the other hand, a member of the Strong Lebanon bloc, Deputy Ziad Aswad, said the delegation’s form is not important; rather, the content of the negotiations is what matters the most.
He considered the Shiite duo’s position “unjustified and worthless in the issue’s context,” adding that Aoun exercised his authority as “stipulated in the constitution.”
