Lebanon’s president defends Lebanon-Israel framework agreement

Lebanon’s president defends Lebanon-Israel framework agreement Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has pushed back against criticism of the country’s ceasefire framework with Israel signed last week in Washington after Hezbollah supporters took to the streets in protest of the agreement. “Lebanon’s problem is with Israel, and it is a sovereign state that decided to negotiate on its own behalf,” Aoun is reported as saying by Lebanon's National News Agency, adding that “it has not relinquished its legal, political or field principles in the framework agreement, as some are claiming. ” The framework was criticised by Hezbollah for not making the withdrawal of Israel troops from occupying southern Lebanon contingent on the disarmament of Hezbollah.