Israel and Lebanon Hold First Direct Peace Talks Since 1993 in Washington

Israel and Lebanon engaged in direct diplomatic talks in Washington on April 14, 2026, marking the first high-level contact since 1993.

The talks were mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and involved the respective ambassadors.

Al Jazeera

Israel's Foreign Minister Saar framed the talks as a step toward peace and normalisation, stating the problem is Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government sought a ceasefire as a precondition, while Israel insisted on disarmament of Hezbollah.

The talks came after more than a month of conflict that killed over 2,000 people in Lebanon.

Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem called for the talks to be scrapped, describing them as futile.

Lebanon's main goal was an immediate ceasefire to allow negotiations in a more quiet mood.

Israel demanded the full and rapid disarmament of Hezbollah as a condition for any truce.

Al Jazeera

Israeli Foreign Minister Saar insisted that Hezbollah was the problem.

The Israeli military warned it expected a rise in attacks by Hezbollah as the talks kicked off.

Despite the peace talks, fighting did not stop.

Israeli strikes killed 35 people in Lebanon on the day the talks began.

Hezbollah's opposition to the talks was a major complicating factor.

The militant group had fired rockets into Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran.

Lebanon's top political authorities proposed direct talks in a bid to stop the escalation.

Hezbollah's chief Naim Qassem urged Lebanon to cancel the meeting.

The Lebanese government has little leverage as it cannot control Hezbollah.

The talks were described as a preparatory meeting.

The talks proceeded amid shifting international dynamics.

France's President Macron faced criticism for his lack of support for Trump's war against Iran.

Anadolu Ajansı

Israeli officials reportedly requested that France be excluded from the talks.

The US-Israeli blockade of Iranian ports began in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the blockade, the fragile two-week truce between Washington and Tehran remained in place.

Trump said Iranian representatives had called Washington since a US delegation returned empty-handed.