"Lebanon's president is committed to disarming Hezbollah and removing Iran"

Former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale said in an interview with Kan News that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is committed to "going all the way" in disarming Hezbollah and removing Iranian influence. Hale stated that Aoun sees Israel's success as a historic opportunity and aspires to full relations with Israel, while expressing cautious optimism about the future.

David Hale, former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, met last week with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. In an interview with Kan News broadcast this evening (Wednesday), Hale said he received the impression from Aoun that he is committed to "going all the way" in disarming Hezbollah and removing Iranian influence. Hale described Aoun as a professional military man with a history of dealing with militias, who sees Israel's success as an opportunity to end the challenge to the authority of the military and the state. According to Hale, Aoun aspires not only to implement the security annex of the framework agreement but to move toward peace and full relations with Israel. The former ambassador expressed optimism about the future of relations but noted that a meeting between Aoun and Israeli leadership will take time. He also addressed the issue of returning the remains of the heads of the Jewish community in Beirut from the 1980s, saying a sincere effort is being made to find the remains.