Lebanese President Joseph Aoun makde a rare public appeal to the Israeli government and people in an interview with CNN, saying a military solution “will never provide you with security and safety” for the people in northern Israel.

“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed. Are you? If you are, let’s sit and talk,” said Aoun.

The Lebanese government is in direct talks with Israel, mediated by Washington, to reach a full cessation of hostilities, despite opposition by the Hezbollah terror group.

“We are fed up and we want to live in peace,” Aoun said, adding that the Lebanese people “deserve to live in peace and in dignity, they deserve not seeing their homes being destroyed every five to 10 years.”

Regarding Israel’s military operations, the Lebanese president said: “They can invade the whole country, they can flatten the whole country, but they will never be able to achieve their objective.”

He ruled out meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before reaching an agreement to end the war, which he said would be a non-aggression pact and not a full peace deal.

“We need to end the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel. Forever. And this (pact) could be a path forward for a just and lasting peace.”

Aoun said Lebanon would move in line with the Saudi-sponsored 2002 Arab Peace........

© The Times of Israel