Lebanese President: “The agreement does not legitimize the continuation of the Israeli occupation”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insists that the framework agreement reached in Washington last week “does not legitimize the continuation of the Israeli occupation in Lebanon.”

Aoun said the lack of a timetable was because it was a “framework formula” and not a final agreement. “Our common goal is one: to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops,” he said.

The agreement, to which Israel, the United States and Lebanon are parties, calls for the disarmament of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah and the subsequent withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Israeli troops have been operating in southern Lebanon since Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 in a show of support for Iran.