Lebanon and Israel are preparing to hold a second session of direct talks in Washington on Thursday, focusing on the possibility of extending the current truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. The discussions also aim to lay the groundwork for future negotiations between the two neighboring countries, which have a long history of hostile relations.
Diplomatic Engagement
The meeting between Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad and her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter marks the second direct encounter between the two diplomats in just a few days. This follows the first such direct talks between the two countries in three decades, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic engagement.
Lebanon President Joseph Aoun confirmed on Wednesday that contacts are ongoing to extend the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which went into effect last Friday. The ceasefire, while fragile, has provided a temporary halt to hostilities that erupted on March 2.
Ceasefire Extension and Demands
During the upcoming meeting, Ambassador Hamadeh is expected to propose an extension of the ceasefire. Additionally, she will call for an end to ongoing Israeli home demolitions in villages and towns that Israel occupied after the latest war broke out. President Aoun's office released these remarks, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to de-escalation.
Preparations are also underway for broader negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. The ultimate goals of these future talks include a complete cessation of Israeli attacks, withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of Lebanese troops along the border, and initiation of the reconstruction process, according to Aoun.
Israeli Perspective
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Lebanon to collaborate in disarming Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group, ahead of the Washington talks. Saar stated, "We don't have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved." During Independence Day remarks to Israel's ambassadors and diplomatic corps, he described Lebanon as a "failed state" and asserted that "the obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one: Hezbollah." He added that Lebanon could have "a future of sovereignty, independence and freedom from the Iranian occupation."
Background of the Conflict
The latest war began when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iran. In response, Israel conducted widespread bombardment of Lebanon and launched a ground invasion, capturing dozens of towns and villages along the border. Israel's military currently occupies a buffer zone extending up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) into southern Lebanon, aiming to neutralize the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles directed at northern Israel.
Challenges and Violations
Despite Hezbollah's outright rejection of the talks, the direct negotiations represent a significant step for two countries with no diplomatic relations, officially at war since Israel's establishment in 1948. The Lebanese government hopes the talks will lead to a permanent end to the war. While Iran has linked the cessation of conflicts in Lebanon and the region to talks with the U.S., Lebanon insists on representing itself independently.
Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah's political council, told The Associated Press that the group will not abide by any agreements made during the direct talks, which it opposes. Since the ceasefire took effect last week, multiple violations have been reported by both sides.
Human Cost
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war has resulted in approximately 2,300 deaths in Lebanon, including hundreds of women and children, and displaced over 1 million people. The first direct talks last week were the first between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. Previously, both countries relied on indirect communication, often brokered by the U.S. or UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's top political authorities, critical of Hezbollah's decision to fire rockets toward Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, quickly proposed direct talks to halt the escalation, hoping to prevent Israel's ground invasion.
