Salam in Qatar: Israel must leave Lebanese land for peace to hold

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that Israel must fully withdraw from Lebanese territory for any lasting stability to be possible.

Speaking during an official visit to Qatar, where he met Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Salam stressed that his government is “mobilising all possible Arab and international support” to compel Israel to pull out.

His visit came a day late after his flight was forced to land in Bahrain, due to Gulf airspace closures triggered by Iranian missile strikes on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The attack followed American airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran. Salam condemned the Iranian attack and expressed solidarity with Doha.

At a joint press conference in Doha, Salam reiterated: "There will be no real stability unless Israel withdraws completely from the Lebanese territories it continues to occupy, known as the Five Points."

He said his government is working to restore state authority across all Lebanese land, in line with the constitution, but that "the foundation remains" the end of Israel's occupation.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a 13-month cross-border conflict that included a major ground invasion of southern Lebanon. A US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on 27 November requires Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese army to deploy in the south, and Israel to withdraw.

While Israel has removed most of its forces, it still occupies five strategic border sites and continues to carry out near-daily strikes, claiming to target Hezbollah positions. It says it will not leave entirely until the group is dismantled.

Salam and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who visited Qatar in April, have repeatedly urged the US and Western governments to pressure Israel into compliance. Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice, said his government has worked tirelessly over the past two months to rally diplomatic backing for a complete Israeli withdrawal.

He added that in the past two weeks, Beirut had managed to prevent Lebanon from being dragged into regional escalation, referring to the air war between Israel and Iran.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed condemned Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire and Lebanese sovereignty.

“These actions are unacceptable and condemnable,” he said, urging the UN Security Council to “assume its responsibilities and halt these irresponsible Israeli actions that threaten regional stability.”

A multinational monitoring committee, led by the US and including France, Israel, Lebanon, and the UN, has failed to prevent further Israeli attacks. Earlier this month, the Lebanese army threatened to suspend cooperation with the mechanism after Israeli strikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Salam and Al Thani also discussed bilateral ties, Qatar’s support for Lebanon and its armed forces, and a Qatari initiative to help with Lebanon’s energy crisis. Salam invited his counterpart to Beirut and said he hoped to welcome Qatari tourists over the summer.