US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday led rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, marking the first such high-level engagement in decades.
While both sides described the discussions as positive, it remained unclear whether they had reached any agreement on a broader peace framework.
The meeting brought together representatives of two countries that have technically remained in a state of conflict since Israel's establishment in 1948.
Despite agreeing to engage in dialogue, both sides entered the talks with sharply differing positions, with Israel reportedly opposing discussions on a ceasefire in Lebanon and insisting on the disarmament of Hezbollah.
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The US State Department said, in a statement after the meeting, both sides had "productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations." The discussions marked the first major interaction between Israel and Lebanon at this level since 1993. Washington welcomed the development as a historic step and reiterated its support for advancing negotiations beyond previous agreements toward a more comprehensive peace arrangement.
“The United States congratulated the two countries on this historic milestone and expressed its support for further talks, and for the Government of Lebanon's plans to restore the monopoly of force and to end Iran's overbearing influence. The United States expressed its hope that talks can exceed the scope of the 2024 agreement and bring about a comprehensive peace deal,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
“The United States affirmed that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached between the two governments, brokered by the United States, and not through any separate track,” Pigott added. The US noted that successful negotiations could open doors to economic recovery for Lebanon and create new investment opportunities in both nations.
The meeting, held on April 14 (Tuesday), was attended by Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, and Counsellor Michael Needham.
Israel expressed its commitment to engaging in direct talks and highlighted the need to dismantle militant infrastructure and disarm non-state armed groups to ensure security for the people of both countries.
“The State of Israel expressed its support for disarming all non-state terror groups and dismantle all terror infrastructure in Lebanon and expressed its commitment to working with the Government of Lebanon to achieve that goal to ensure security for the people of both countries,” read the press statement.
Lebanon, on the other hand, stressed the urgency of fully implementing the existing ceasefire framework, while calling for a ceasefire and immediate steps to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing conflict. “The State of Lebanon reaffirmed the urgent need for the full implementation of the cessation of hostilities announcement of November 2024, underscoring the principles of territorial integrity and full state sovereignty,” it added.
The statement outlined the positions of each country but did not state whether they had established any common ground, noting that all parties have agreed to begin direct negotiations at a mutually decided time and venue. The meeting takes place at a crucial moment in the ongoing Middle East crisis, coming just a week after a fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The broader conflict traces back to late February, when joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran, followed by Hezbollah launching attacks in support of Tehran. This escalation triggered a major Israeli offensive that, according to Lebanese authorities, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths and displaced nearly 1.2 million people.
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