Behind the Scenes at Baabda Palace: A Presidential “No” to the 2-Kilometer Blackmail

In exclusive details obtained by Jnews Lebanon from the corridors of Baabda Palace, the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, chaired a high-level evaluative meeting. The session included the Army Commander, General Rudolf Haikal, the head of the negotiating delegation, former Ambassador Simon Karam, and the accompanying advisory team. The meeting was far from protocol; it laid down the strict “sovereignty roadmap” that the delegation will carry to Washington to dismantle Israeli tactical traps.

Our sources confirm that the presidential directives were decisive, accompanied by an absolute Lebanese veto against any attempts to impose buffer zones or Israeli surveillance outposts at a depth of two kilometers. President Aoun emphasized that Lebanon’s core principles are non-negotiable and center on:

• A permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
• Immediate and complete Israeli withdrawal from all occupied territories.
• The unconditional deployment of the Lebanese Army along the international borders.
• The return of all Lebanese detainees and the immediate launch of reconstruction efforts.

This rigid Lebanese positioning aims to strip Tehran of any leverage over the Lebanese file, asserting Beirut’s sovereign independence amid the unfolding regional storms.

The Grand Clash: “Clause One” at Versailles Palace vs. Tel Aviv’s Maps

On the international stage, US President Donald Trump orchestrated the regional signing ceremony from the French Palace of Versailles with his signature grandiosity, declaring, “I DID IT.” The explicit first clause of the memorandum binds Washington, Tehran, and their allies to an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, while guaranteeing Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

However, according to diplomatic tracking by Jnews Lebanon, Tel Aviv swiftly moved to sabotage the clause’s efficacy. The Israeli army deliberately published an updated map showing its encroachment to a depth of 10 kilometers in the South, labeling it an “expanded buffer zone.” Furthermore, Benjamin Netanyahu openly declared his adherence to the “security zone” and refused to withdraw. This coincided with leaked information published by Axios, stating that Netanyahu told Trump directly: “There will be no withdrawal from South Lebanon without the complete and comprehensive disarmament of Hezbollah.” This Israeli stubbornness entirely invalidates previous claims suggesting that Tehran could guarantee an Israeli withdrawal upon signing.

JD Vance’s Warning and the 60-Day Technical Window

In response to the Israeli field defiance, our sources in the US capital reveal suppressed anger within the Trump administration regarding Netanyahu’s attempts to embarrass the “President seeking to deliver peace.” The most striking reaction came from US Vice President JD Vance, who openly issued a stern warning to Tel Aviv. Vance deemed attacks causing civilian casualties in Beirut “unacceptable,” hinting that Israel routinely bombarded Lebanon whenever the administration neared a political breakthrough, and urged them to adhere to Trump’s call for rationality.

Caught between the anvil of Iranian regional exploitation and the hammer of Israeli field consolidation, Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s successor, Nawaf Salam, is currently in Paris exploring European and Qatari stances. Meanwhile, political circles are eagerly awaiting the official scheduling of President Joseph Aoun’s visit to the White House, which will be the real turning point in forcing Washington to enforce its deal on Tel Aviv under the threat of severe consequences or halting support.