Hezbollah Calls Direct Talks With Israel a ‘Grave Sin’ in Rebuke to Lebanese Authorities

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, strongly criticized direct talks between the Lebanese government and Israel, saying it rejects any such negotiations.

AFP reported on April 27 that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in a statement, called direct negotiations with Israel a "grave sin."

"We firmly reject direct negotiations with Israel," Qassem said. He added that Lebanon’s current ruling authorities "must realize that what they are doing is of no benefit whatsoever to Lebanon’s national interest or to themselves."

He also urged Lebanese authorities to "immediately stop" actions that are pushing the country into a spiral of instability.

Qassem said direct talks and any outcome from them "do not exist for us" and are of no interest to Hezbollah. He said the group would not stop what it called "defensive resistance" to protect the people.

Hezbollah, a pro-Iran Lebanese armed faction, declared on April 2 that it would join the war on Iran’s side after conflict erupted following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, and then attacked Israel.

The dispute intensified after the Lebanese government began seeking a separate path to peace as the damage grew following Hezbollah’s entry into the conflict.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on April 18 under the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump, but armed clashes have continued on the ground.

The cumulative death toll in Lebanon since the outbreak of the war has already exceeded 2,500.

As casualties surged, the Lebanese government accepted U.S. mediation and held two rounds of face-to-face talks with Israel.

Hezbollah has strongly objected as Israel, which wants the group disarmed, and the Lebanese government, which is seeking peace, moved ahead with direct negotiations.

Park Sang-kyung, Hankyung.com reporter highseoul@hankyung.com