Ministry of Foreign Affairs Silent: Bou Habib's Letter Sparks Controversy

“Lebanon Debate”

It has been a day since the unexpected report by the "Jerusalem Post," which claimed that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Kantz received a letter from Lebanese counterpart Abdalla Bou Habib via an intermediary. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has not issued any statement to confirm or refute this significant news, amidst the barbaric attacks of Israeli soldiers on Lebanon.

The Hebrew newspaper reported that Bou Habib sent a private letter to Katz through Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, affirming Lebanon's desire for peace and emphasizing a preference for diplomatic solutions over conflict.

In response, Katz expressed Israel's insistence on repatriating the population of occupied northern Palestine to their homes, warning of potential military action if diplomatic efforts fail.

If this information turns out to be accurate, Bou Habib's actions require clarification. It is not the first time he disregards ministerial consensus and Lebanon's PM, who coordinates diplomatic efforts with Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Previously, Bou Habib linked the ceasefire in southern Lebanon to Gaza, aligning with resistance positions. However, his past actions include controversial statements during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He sided with U.S.-backed Kiev despite Lebanon's delicate relations with Moscow. In this context, it is worth mentioning that Bou Habib holds a US passport.

In 2022, Bou Habib criticized the Syrian authorities for their alleged lack of cooperation on refugee return issues, which heightened tensions with Damascus. This sentiment was echoed by the Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon at the time.

Meanwhile, Bou Habib has been criticized for overlooking diplomatic infractions by foreign embassies, including incidents involving both the current and former German Ambassadors. He was passively standing by while these embassies reportedly made incursions into Lebanese territory from Naameh to the Lebanese-Syrian border in Arsal.

الخارجية في صمت عميق… "جيروساليم بوست" تكشف عن تواصل بو حبيب مع وزير الخارجية الاسرائيلي!