Direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington for the first time in decades

Washington hosts a direct peace talks on Tuesday, the first of their kind since 1993, between representatives of Lebanon and Israel, whose foreign minister said it wants them to lead to peace and normalization between the two countries.

However, Hezbollah’s rejection of these talks reduces the chances of reaching an agreement.

Prior to the scheduled meeting in Washington, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem called for its cancellation, describing it as a surrender.

The talks are being held in the early afternoon Washington time, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the participation of the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington, Yehiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh-Mawad, in addition to the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Tuesday during a press conference, “We want to reach peace and normalization with the state of Lebanon… There are no major disagreements between Israel and Lebanon… The problem is Hezbollah”.

From his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set two conditions for the talks: “the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons and reaching a peace agreement that “lasts for generations”.

According to a US State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the discussions aim to ensure the long-term security of Israel’s northern border and support the Lebanese government’s determination to restore its full sovereignty over its territory and political life.

A US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the talks were aimed at ensuring long-term security for Israel’s northern border and supporting the Lebanese government’s determination to restore full sovereignty over its territory and political life.

On the Lebanese side, President Joseph Aoun expressed his hope that during the anticipated meeting tomorrow in Washington between the ambassadors of Lebanon, the United States and Israel, an agreement will be reached on a ceasefire in Lebanon, with the aim of starting direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which have been at war for decades.

The US administration insists on the need to disarm Hezbollah, expressing regret that the Lebanese army has been unable or unwilling to do so thus far.

However, Washington’s position appears perplexing, as it calls for respect for Lebanon’s territorial integrity while simultaneously supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.

A former Israeli security official told reporters that it would take a lot of imagination and optimism to believe that the conflict between Israel and Lebanon can be resolved in Washington, adding that expectations are low

“It will be very difficult to reach an agreement, and Israel will create a buffer zone in the north, very similar to the one we have in Gaza,” he added, requesting anonymity.

Israel plans to create a security zone in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have entered to eliminate what it says is a threat posed by Hezbollah to the residents of northern Israel.

A previous ceasefire was announced in November 2024, but Israel continued to bomb border areas to destroy Hezbollah positions and eliminate its leaders.

On the ground, ten Israeli soldiers were wounded in overnight clashes with Hezbollah fighters in the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil, which the army announced on Sunday it had surrounded.