President Aoun Rejects US Push for Netanyahu Meeting; Demands End to Israeli Attacks First

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun flatly rejected a US push for a direct meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating it is 'not the right time to meet Netanyahu' and insisting that a security agreement and halt to Israeli attacks must come first. The Trump administration, represented by US Ambassador Michel Issa, had proposed an Abraham Accords-style summit between Aoun and Netanyahu to advance normalisation. Analysts noted that the US was 'looking for a photo opportunity' without adequate preparation, and that such a meeting could inflame internal Lebanese tensions at a fragile moment. Aoun's refusal underscored Lebanon's insistence that Israeli military operations — ongoing despite the April 16 ceasefire — must stop before any political normalisation discussions.