Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold further direct negotiations after “productive discussions” between ambassadors in Washington on Tuesday, as both nations work to build a framework for a peace agreement to end Israel’s war with Hezbollah.
In a joint statement released by the U.S., Israel and Lebanon, all parties expressed support for further U.S.-brokered talks and said negotiations could curb Iran’s influence and “unlock significant reconstruction assistance and economic recovery for Lebanon.”
The statement also confirmed that Israel pushed for the full disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group and political party, and Lebanon urged Israel to accept a ceasefire.
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, struck an optimistic tone following the meeting, telling reporters that both nations are “on the same side of the equation” and are united in liberating the country from the influence of Hezbollah.
Mr. Leiter added that Lebanese representatives expressed a clear desire to disarm Hezbollah, and that he expected talks to continue in the coming weeks.
Mr. Leiter and Ms. Hamadeh Moawad, met at the State Department in Washington just after 11 a.m. before entering closed-door talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counselor Michael Needham, U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa also participated in the discussion.
Israel and Lebanon do not maintain diplomatic ties, and the talks are the first in-person negotiations between the two nations since the Oslo Accords process in 1993.
The talks come as Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens an already fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
Iran has insisted that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire announced last week and has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted those calls, vowing to press on until Hezbollah is dismantled.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Rubio adjusted expectations regarding a swift ceasefire, emphasizing that the focus of the talks is on “bringing a permanent end” to Hezbollah’s power in Lebanon.
“We have to remember the Lebanese people are victims of Hezbollah. The Lebanese people are victims of Iranian aggression. And this needs to stop,” Mr. Rubio said ahead of the meeting. “This will be a process, all of the complexities of this matter are not going to be resolved in the next six hours. But we can begin to move forward to create the framework where something can happen. Something very positive.”
Going into the talks, both sides were divided on goals. Lebanon sought a ceasefire with Israel, during which diplomats could begin negotiations to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who took office earlier this year vowing to reassert state sovereignty, said Monday in a statement that his nation is looking for a “sustainable solution” to the conflict that isn’t “one-sided.”
Israel launched fresh rounds of airstrikes on two cities in southern Lebanon just hours before the talks were slated to begin, according to Lebanon’s state-affiliated National News Agency.
Hezbollah also launched several rocket attacks against targets in northern Israel on Tuesday.
The Lebanese government does not control Hezbollah and the organization’s leadership has rejected diplomatic talks with Israel.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday called on Lebanon to cancel the scheduled talks, arguing that agreeing to meet with Israel would be the same as “capitulation and surrender.” Additionally, senior Hezbollah political council member Wafiq Safa told The Associated Press that the organization would not abide by any agreements signed as a result of Tuesday’s talks.
The war between Hezbollah and Israel has raged for nearly a month after the militant group launched missiles and drone attacks on Israeli targets in support of Iran. The Israeli military says Hezbollah has fired more than 6,500 missiles and drones in the past month.
In response, Israel’s military campaign has devastated Lebanon. At least 2,000 people have been killed and more than 6,700 injured as of this week, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Israeli strikes have displaced nearly 1 million people, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
