Media: Aoun refused to talk to Netanyahu

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 16. According to Lebanese media and, in particular, the LBCI TV channel, the head of state told his interlocutor that he would not speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Last night the conversation was announced by US President Donald Trump. On his page on the TruthSocial social network, he wrote: “I’m trying to defuse the situation a little between Israel and Lebanon. The leaders of these countries have not spoken to each other for a very, very long time – 34 years. But tomorrow it will happen.”

It should be noted that the official message from Aoun’s office did not say about the cancellation of the conversation: “The President responded to Secretary of State Rubio’s telephone call and thanked him for his efforts to achieve a truce and peace that will contribute to the stability and security of Lebanon.”

Informed sources also reported to Reuters that the Lebanese president refused to communicate with the Israeli Prime Minister. The head of state himself said that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah would be a good starting point.

According to the Saudi TV channel Al-Sharq, during a telephone conversation with Aoun, Rubio told him that President Donald Trump intended to talk to him himself.