Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged his American counterpart Donald Trump to continue supporting Lebanon and its legitimate issues, institutions, army, and people, with the aim of 'turning the page on wars, tragedies, and pain,' alongside ongoing American mediation between Lebanon and Israel that resulted in the signing of a framework agreement rejected by Hezbollah.
This invitation comes amid Israel's continued refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy and for residents to return, in addition to postponing its withdrawal from one of the villages located within the experimental area covered by the framework agreement, signed by representatives from Beirut and Tel Aviv last week at the U.S. State Department, which poses an obstacle to the commencement of the agreement's implementation. President Aoun, in a congratulatory message to Trump on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of American independence, stated: 'There is no doubt that the historical relationship between Lebanon and the United States is old and rooted as the principles and human and social values that unite their visions, and today that relationship is returning strongly thanks to your insistence and unceasing efforts to restore stability and security to the Middle East in general, and to Lebanon in particular.' Aoun said, 'While we appreciate your efforts in this regard, we call on you to continue standing by Lebanon's legitimate and just causes, and alongside its institutions, army, and people, so that we might turn the page on wars, tragedies, and pain, and open a new chapter of hope, peace, and stability.'
Aoun's invitation precedes a meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the United States. Netanyahu's office announced in a statement that the Israeli Prime Minister 'said during the conversation that the United States is a guarantor of global freedom, and Israel greatly values the close relations between the two countries.' The statement added that 'Netanyahu and Trump agreed to meet soon in the United States.' The statement also indicated that the Israeli Prime Minister congratulated Trump on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his country's independence. Washington is considered Israel’s closest ally; however, Trump has publicly criticized Netanyahu in recent weeks, following attacks from Israel in Lebanon that threatened peace talks with Iran, which conditioned halting the war on all fronts, including the front between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.