‘The right to negotiate belongs to the blood of martyrs’ - Beirut residents divided over historic Lebanon-Israel talks

"Residents of Beirut expressed mixed reactions to the direct US-brokered talks between Lebanon and Israel held in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. While some locals firmly rejected the negotiations, others viewed them as a potential path toward stability and de-escalation. Footage filmed on Tuesday shows residents going about their daily lives in the city’s streets. Local resident Hassan Sadeq said he categorically rejects the negotiations which he said are incompatible given the death and destruction wrought on Lebanon by Israel. He added that talks cannot take place with ‘agents and thieves’. “How can we negotiate with someone like Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who spoke of a ‘Greater Israel’ that extends to include all of Lebanon? How can we negotiate with someone who is so eager to occupy our country?” commented another resident. However, others voiced support for the talks as a necessary step toward ending the conflict. “All wars end through negotiations,” said Naji Fareha. “We, the Lebanese people, do not seek war. There are 4 to 5 million of us; we must work to add value to this country and this region." Another local, Ghassan Zeitoun, echoed this view, saying he supports any effort that could bring peace and stability to Lebanon and serve the interests of all its communities. The talks mark the first direct engagement between Lebanese and Israeli officials in decades, amid ongoing Israeli military operations against Hezbollah. Clashes escalated on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel, following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli strikes. Israeli operations in Lebanon have continued despite a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Israel with Iran and its allies, which came into effect last week. While Iran maintains that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Israel has rejected the interpretation, treating the Lebanese front as separate. Meanwhile, recent US-Iran talks held in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, adding further uncertainty to prospects for de-escalation. "

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