News|Israel attacks LebanonLebanon and Israel talks raise hope of more robust, expanded truceIsraeli PM’s office said talks are an initial bid ‘to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation’.
Israel and Lebanon are set to conduct direct diplomatic discussions for the first time in decades. Both nations have dispatched civilian envoys to a monitoring body overseeing the 2024 truce.
Israel and Lebanon are set to conduct direct diplomatic discussions for the first time in decades. Both nations have dispatched civilian envoys to a monitoring body overseeing the 2024 truce.
Lebanon has announced that its delegation will be led by a civilian for the first time, responding to a longstanding request from the United States. President Joseph Aoun's office confirmed that this decision followed Israel's agreement to include a non-military member in its delegation. Simon Karam, a former ambassador to the United States, will represent Lebanon.
Israel has tasked Gil Reich, acting director of the National Security Council, with appointing a representative for the meeting. Uri Resnick has been named as the Israeli representative by Israel's Arutz Sheva media.
No specific details about the location and time of the meeting of the military committee overseeing the truce have been disclosed. However, the meeting is expected to take place near the United Nations-demarcated Blue Line, marking the unofficial border between the two states.
Israel and Lebanon are set to conduct direct diplomatic discussions for the first time in decades.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office has described this meeting as an initial attempt to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon. This step is considered significant for Lebanon, which has faced pressure from the United States to engage in direct talks with Israel.
President Aoun has expressed openness to negotiations for a more robust truce, following the one brokered in November 2024. Despite the truce, Israel has carried out strikes in Lebanon, which it claims are targeted at Hezbollah members and infrastructure.
Washington has urged Lebanon to follow through on its commitment to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, a demand that has been rejected by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
