Lebanon and Israel began a new round of talks this Tuesday in Washington, with Beirut determined to press ahead with direct negotiations even as they appear to be overshadowed by Iran’s decision to make Lebanon part of its talks with the United States (US).
Lebanese officials have insisted that face-to-face negotiations with Israel are the only way to secure an end to the war raging since March 2, when armed group Hezbollah fired at Israel in support of Iran and triggered Israeli air and ground attacks that have killed more than 4 000 people in Lebanon.
But four rounds of Lebanese-Israeli talks since April have failed to produce a durable ceasefire.
Instead, the longest lull in fighting came this week after Iran and the US agreed a memorandum of understanding that stipulated fighting would halt across all fronts, including Lebanon.
That deal buoyed Iran-backed Hezbollah and dealt a blow to the Lebanese state, whose leaders including President Joseph Aoun had repeatedly warned that Tehran cannot negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf.
“Today, and in the coming days, we embark on a new round of talks, which we hope will be decisive in achieving what we desire for the good of our nation and our people,” Aoun said in a post on X on Tuesday.
A State Department official said the negotiations would involve military and political delegates from each country and aimed to “advance a comprehensive peace and security agreement between the two countries.”
A State Department official said the negotiations would involve military and political delegates from each country and aimed to “advance a comprehensive peace and security agreement between the two countries.”
“Our shared goal is to end the cycle of violence for good. We are enabling Israel and Lebanon to negotiate as two sovereign states and to find a way to have peace and security,” the official said.
—Reuters—
