Story perspectives

Lebanese leaders split over Israel talks amid deadly strikes

5/1/2026

Summary

Aoun Meets Israel

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on talks with Israel.
Speaker Nabih Berri opposed the talks, accused President Joseph Aoun of inaccurate statements, and saw a Saudi-brokered meeting collapse.
President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and former President Amin Gemayel voiced different peace aims: normalization, a non-aggression pact and a 1949-style deal.
Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed 2,500 people, displaced 1.2 million and killed three rescuers Tuesday.

Summary

Menassa Urges Peace

Michel Menassa said talks with Israel must seek peace, not surrender, after meeting Druze leader Sheikh Sami Abil-Mona.
Israeli media said Tel Aviv set a deadline for a deal, warning of escalation if talks fail.
The cease-fire that began 17 April was extended to 17 May, despite Israel’s continued airstrikes and demolitions.
Since 2 March the offensive has killed 2,534 people, wounded 7,863 and displaced over 1.6 million, one-fifth of Lebanon’s population.

Summary

Hezbollah Strikes

Hezbollah fighters attacked Israeli tanks on Wednesday after a White House meeting, hitting two Merkava tanks with a kamikaze drone and destroying another near Beit Lif.
Deputy Head Mahmoud Qamati said Hezbollah will not join U.S.-brokered talks without a full ceasefire and praised Speaker Nabih Berri’s refusal to negotiate with Israel.
Qamati affirmed Hezbollah will keep retaliatory operations until all Israeli-occupied Lebanese territory, a strip five to ten km deep, is liberated.

History

Historical Context

In June 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon after attacks on its north and the attempted assassination of diplomat Shlomo Argov, occupying the south and Beirut. It withdrew to a “security zone” in 1985 but kept troops in southern Lebanon until 2000—a span of 18 years that spurred Hezbollah’s armed resistance. Today President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Hezbollah commander Mahmoud Qamati cite that history, demanding a cease-fire before U.S. talks.

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Aoun Meets Israel

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on talks with Israel.
Speaker Nabih Berri opposed the talks, accused President Joseph Aoun of inaccurate statements, and saw a Saudi-brokered meeting collapse.
President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and former President Amin Gemayel voiced different peace aims: normalization, a non-aggression pact and a 1949-style deal.
Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed 2,500 people, displaced 1.2 million and killed three rescuers Tuesday.

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