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Lebanon's Minister of Culture, Ghassan Salamé, has framed ongoing negotiations with Israel as a pragmatic necessity, telling France 24 that dialogue is the only viable path toward stability and prosperity for the Lebanese people. In an interview with François Picard aired on April 21, Salamé emphasized that Lebanon seeks full sovereignty over its land, people, and waters, and that respect for international law must underpin any agreement.

"You don't negotiate with your friend. You have nothing to negotiate with your friend. You negotiate with your enemy," Salamé said. "And in this case, what we want is to negotiate in order to give serenity and prosperity to our fellow countrymen. That's what we are looking for."

Salamé acknowledged the military imbalance between Lebanon and Israel, but insisted that the Lebanese population is prepared to prioritize national interests. He portrayed Lebanon as a country that has preserved political pluralism and freedom of expression despite decades of conflict, and suggested that negotiations are the only way to secure the basic conditions for Lebanese citizens to live and thrive.

Coverage Comparison

Three separate France 24 segments, all published in April 2026, provide insight into the negotiations. Two segments feature Salamé's remarks about the necessity and goals of talks. A third, aired on April 15, features former Lebanese Foreign Minister Farès Boueiz offering a more cautious and critical perspective. While Salamé's tone is optimistic and forward-looking, Boueiz emphasizes the significant challenges and misaligned objectives between the two sides.

Key Claims

  • Negotiations as necessity: Salamé argues that talks with Israel are not a choice but a necessity for Lebanon's stability and dignity. He said that Lebanon wants to negotiate "to give serenity and prosperity to our fellow countrymen." He also stated that the military balance of power is not in Lebanon's favor, but that the population is ready to accept putting the country's interests first.
  • Sovereignty and international law: According to Salamé, Lebanon's goal is full sovereignty over its land, people, and waters, with negotiations contingent on respect for international law.
  • Exploratory stage: Boueiz described the Israeli-Lebanese talks in the US as being in an "exploratory stage," a technical prelude to more meaningful negotiations. He cautioned against defining them as a "breakthrough."
  • Misalignment of objectives: Boueiz said the fundamental issue is that Lebanon and Israel have different goals. Lebanon seeks an immediate ceasefire and implementation of UN Resolution 1701, while Israel seeks "full political peace and with normalisation" of ties.

Perspectives

Salamé's perspective reflects the Lebanese government's attempt to balance recognition of Israel's military superiority with the need to secure basic conditions for its citizens. His emphasis on negotiation as a necessity, rather than a choice, acknowledges the difficulty of the situation while seeking a pragmatic path forward.

Boueiz offers a more critical view, arguing that it is not coherent for Israel to "take Lebanon under fire to negotiations." He contends that negotiating while Lebanon is "submerged by bombing all day" undermines constructive dialogue. He also criticizes the United States for deflecting from its traditional role of honest broker, relegating itself to a "mere messenger of Israel" rather than a mediator. Without credible facilitation, he says, the prospects for meaningful progress remain uncertain.