The Lebanese presidency announced that Lebanon and Israel conducted their first direct phone contact on Friday, involving Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Maouad, and her Israeli counterpart, Yechiel Leiter, with the participation of the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, who is currently in the US capital.
According to the Lebanese presidency, both sides agreed to hold their first formal meeting on Tuesday at the US Department of State. The discussions are expected to address the announcement of a ceasefire and set a timeline for the start of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship.
Diverging Positions Ahead of Talks
Israel stated that it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah during the anticipated direct talks. Leiter confirmed that Israel has agreed to begin formal peace negotiations with the Lebanese government, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
He added that Israel rejected any discussion of a ceasefire with Hezbollah, describing it as an organisation that continues to carry out attacks and represents the primary obstacle to peace between the two sides.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had previously expressed readiness for direct negotiations with Israel following the renewed outbreak of war between Israel and Hezbollah on 2 March, despite decades of formal hostility between the two states.
Lebanon’s Proposal and Israeli Response
Aoun’s initiative includes establishing a full truce to halt all Israeli attacks on Lebanon, alongside logistical support for the Lebanese army to enable it to take control of remaining conflict zones, confiscate weapons, and oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah and control of its stockpiles.
Israel did not respond to this proposal until 9 April, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had instructed officials to begin negotiations with Beirut. He stated that this decision followed repeated Lebanese requests for talks, adding that negotiations would focus on Hezbollah’s disarmament and the establishment of peace relations between Israel and Lebanon.
Escalation and Regional Implications
These developments come after intense Israeli airstrikes on Beirut that resulted in more than 300 deaths, raising concerns about the potential collapse of the ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Iran has called for the current ceasefire to include Lebanon. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued Israeli strikes would render negotiations with the United States meaningless.
For Beirut, a government official indicated that securing a ceasefire remains the immediate priority before entering into negotiations with Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel has consistently stated that its objective is to remove what it describes as the Hezbollah threat to northern Israeli populations. Israeli officials have reiterated plans to establish a security zone in southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres from the border, to prevent rocket, drone, or missile attacks.
Hezbollah Rejects Direct Negotiations
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem called on Lebanese officials to stop making what he described as concessions to Israel, affirming in a written statement the continuation of resistance. Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad also rejected any direct negotiations, calling instead for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
On Friday, hundreds of Hezbollah supporters protested outside government headquarters in Beirut, opposing the government’s decision to centralise arms under state control and to enter direct negotiations with Israel.
The demonstration was held under slogans rejecting normalisation and condemning government decisions, following calls circulated by pro Hezbollah activists on social media.
During the protest, some participants burned tyres near government buildings, while others temporarily blocked roads.
Ongoing Military and Political Tensions
The Lebanese army had previously announced on 8 January that its plan to centralise weapons had achieved its initial objectives south of the Litani River and had entered an advanced phase. However, it warned that continued Israeli attacks and occupation of Lebanese positions were negatively impacting progress.
Hezbollah has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to retaining its weapons, calling for an end to Israeli aggression against Lebanon and a full withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories.
