The Washington Stalemate: Joseph Aoun’s Fear of a "Netanyahu Photo Op"

A well-informed source reported that efforts to arrange a visit for President Joseph Aoun to the United States are currently frozen.

The source told Al-Akhbar newspaper that the President, who is eager to visit the White House, now fears a visit that ends with a photo op with Netanyahu without any clear gains regarding the ceasefire and withdrawal files. The source added that the American side informed Aoun that there are no guarantees for a comprehensive ceasefire before a Washington visit, and that the withdrawal will be a negotiation item, not a prerequisite step.

AlMuraqeb : It is truly touching to see Joseph Aoun’s sudden "principled" hesitation; apparently, the man who spent his career playing both sides of the fence is only worried about the optics of a handshake with Netanyahu because it might hurt his branding, not because he actually cares about the sovereignty he’s been trading away for years.

He’s desperate for a seat in the Oval Office, but even a seasoned opportunist like him knows that a photo with Bibi—without a single scrap of a concession to show for it—is a political suicide note that even his American handlers can't save him from.