The ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel are set to engage in a second round of discussions in Washington on Thursday. The Lebanese delegation is seeking backing from the Trump administration to halt Israel’s significant military actions against Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun remarked, “For the first time, Lebanon’s issues are back on the US agenda” on Thursday.
Aoun expressed hope that these new discussions would pave the way for “economic recovery, reconstruction, etc.” Although he won’t be present at the meeting, he anticipates a future conversation with President Donald Trump regarding the ramifications of the conflict in Lebanon.
The talks will see representation from Lebanese Ambassador to the US, Nada Moawad, alongside Israel’s Ambassador Ekiel Reiter. Michelle Issa, the US ambassador to Lebanon, will also be attending. Notably, Hezbollah, the entity that instigated the conflict by attacking Israel, has opted not to send a representative and has minimized the significance of the peace discussions.
The US State Department, which is facilitating these Israel-Lebanon talks, remains optimistic that a lasting ceasefire can be secured if both sides make headway and a “mutual agreement” is achieved, contingent on the Lebanese government demonstrating its capacity to assert sovereignty.
This implies that Lebanon needs to rein in Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported group that unilaterally brought Lebanon into the conflict last month.
“It’s time to recognize Lebanon as a sovereign state rather than allowing Iranian-backed organizations to dictate its future or sabotage peace,” a State Department official mentioned.
They also expressed support for Lebanese leaders who are realistic about the situation and aim for a stable, sovereign Lebanon. Aoun’s administration has voiced strong displeasure over Hezbollah’s role in the destruction of Lebanon due to Israeli retaliatory actions, yet it has also sharply criticized Israel’s military response, including airstrikes and incursions into southern Lebanon along with the devastation of villages used for Hezbollah’s operations.
Lebanon has faced ongoing pressure to disarm Hezbollah, initially through UN resolutions and later in the context of the 2024 Gaza ceasefire, but Hezbollah continues its attacks against Israel. The Israeli government claims its counteroffensive is aimed at establishing a buffer zone along the Israel-Lebanon border to neutralize Hezbollah’s threats entirely.
Aoun outlined the negotiation objectives, which include an “end to Israeli aggression,” withdrawal of Israeli military forces from southern Lebanon, the return of prisoners, enabling displaced Lebanese civilians to return home, and beginning the reconstruction of the war-torn areas.
Aoun has also called for an end to “Israeli sabotage actions in southern villages,” where Israeli forces are reportedly demolishing buildings potentially utilized by Hezbollah as firing posts.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated last week that areas currently under control by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been “cleared of terrorists, weapons, and residents” and will continue to be purged of terrorist infrastructure.
Katz emphasized that the operations would persist and involve “destroying homes in Lebanese villages that have effectively become terrorist strongholds.” The IDF asserted that their bombing activities comply with international law and don’t target civilian properties without military necessity.
In spite of numerous challenges, Aoun described Thursday’s meeting as “a precious opportunity that must not be squandered, as it may never happen again.”
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed skepticism, labeling Lebanon a “failed state” under Iranian manipulation via Hezbollah.
“I urge the Lebanese government to collaborate against the terrorist state that Hezbollah has formed on your soil. This cooperation is more essential for your country than for us,” Saar asserted.
Saar also remarked, “We don’t have serious disputes with Lebanon. Only some minor border issues remain that can be settled,” adding that Hezbollah is a significant impediment to peace and normalization between the two nations.
Hezbollah representatives condemned Aoun’s negotiations with Israel, declaring their right to resist through missile strength and refusing to abide by any agreements made in Washington.
Hassan Fadlallah, a lawmaker affiliated with Hezbollah, mentioned that the group plans to extend the ongoing ceasefire “depending on Israel’s compliance.” He suggested there shouldn’t be any further discussions aside from urging Aoun to cease direct negotiations with Israel.
Lebanese Christians continue to feel trapped in the Hezbollah-Israel conflict and have expressed anger over the recent destruction of a statue of Jesus Christ by Israeli soldiers, despite an apology from the Israeli Defense Forces regarding the incident.
Joseph Atiye, a local official from Debel village where the statue was destroyed, commented, “Their apology is insufficient. It feels like an insult. This is a symbol of love and peace, and they shattered it.”
He further remarked, “We couldn’t grasp why the military would behave this way. Warfare is one issue. Religious matters are another. All nations agree that religious symbols should be protected.”
Atiye added that the incident will leave a lasting scar on their community, asserting, “A red line has been crossed. There appears to be no respect for humanity.”
While Israel’s apology for the statue’s destruction seems to have included delivering humanitarian assistance to affected Christian villages, the residents remain unsatisfied with the offered aid.
An official from the Christian village of Rumeish emphasized, “We don’t want supplies like herbs; we want to live with dignity and need a humanitarian corridor for self-sufficiency,” while stressing the urgent need for civilian aid in conflict areas.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conveyed to the Washington Post that his government has rejected Israel’s “buffer zone” proposition, stating they won’t accept any agreement unless it guarantees a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli troops.
He asserted, “We can’t coexist with Israel having a so-called buffer zone, which would prevent Lebanese refugees from returning and the rebuilding of devastated villages.”
Salam is hopeful that an agreement could be reached with support from the US.
He concluded, “We engage in these US-convened negotiations believing that the United States can exert influence over Israel. The US’s role is crucial in reaching a ceasefire and we anticipate it will continue to push Israel.”
Salam expressed uncertainty about the outcomes of negotiations but affirmed their aspirations, stating, “We don’t want to overlook any possibilities in achieving our objectives.”
Additionally, Salam condemned Israel for a war crime in relation to an airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured a photographer, alleging deliberate targeting of Khalil by the IDF.
He remarked, “Attacking journalists, blocking relief efforts, and subsequently targeting their locations again constitutes a war crime.”
The Lebanese Ministry of Health accused Israeli forces of using gunfire to obstruct ambulances from the Lebanese Red Cross from reaching the wounded journalists.
The IDF countered that it “does not target journalists and strives to minimize harm to them while ensuring the safety of our personnel,” asserting that the vehicles hit in the airstrike posed an “immediate threat” after leaving a “military group utilized by Hezbollah.”
