Mazaj News (Web Desk) Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi has said there is nothing inappropriate about engaging in talks with Israel if the objective is to end ongoing conflict and reclaim lost territory.
In an interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat, Raggi stressed that choosing dialogue should not be seen as surrender. Instead, he described it as a strategic step aimed at protecting Lebanon’s national interests, rejecting claims that such negotiations signal weakness.
He further emphasized that Lebanon operates independently and is not influenced or controlled by any external alliances. Addressing perceptions of the country’s position, Raggi said it would be misleading to portray Lebanon as either completely powerless or as having conceded defeat.
Turning to domestic matters, he criticized Hezbollah, accusing the group of putting southern communities at risk in pursuit of objectives that do not align with Lebanon’s broader national priorities or the well-being of its citizens.
Raggi also underlined a shift in policy, stating that Lebanon’s path is now separate from that of Iran, and that the country’s interests are no longer tied to the outcomes of Tehran’s negotiations on the international stage.