Israel And Lebanon To Hold First Direct Peace Talks Since 1948 In Washington

Israel and Lebanon are set to hold direct peace talks in Washington next Tuesday.

“Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, held a first-ever phone call with his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, over the weekend, a break from tradition because Israel and Lebanon do not have formal diplomatic relations”

Al Jazeera

The talks will be led by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad.

Al Jazeera

The move comes after Netanyahu announced opening direct negotiations to address disarmament of Hezbollah.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed any negotiations must be led by the Lebanese state alone.

Hezbollah-affiliated lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the group rejects direct negotiations.

The talks come amid ongoing escalation in southern Lebanon.

Leiter is a US-born Israeli from Scranton, Pennsylvania.

He took part in the 1982 Lebanon War and is a longtime settlement activist.

News18

He was previously linked to the now-banned Kach party.

He holds a PhD in political philosophy from the University of Haifa.

Netanyahu's office described him as a talented diplomat with a deep understanding of American culture and politics.

The appointment has drawn controversy due to Leiter's past affiliations.

The two sides issued conflicting statements about the subject of the talks.

“Next Tuesday, Washington, D”

Al-Jarida Al-Jazeera

The Lebanese presidency said they agreed to meet to discuss a ceasefire.

The Israeli Embassy said the talks would mark the start of formal peace negotiations.

Netanyahu clarified the talks aim to disarm Hezbollah and reach a peace agreement.

Lebanon's acceptance of talks reflects unprecedented internal opposition to Hezbollah.

The government banned Hezbollah from carrying out military activities in March.

The talks come after more than a month of fighting that killed at least 1,900 people in Lebanon.

Israel has intensified aerial strikes after Hezbollah fired missiles on March 2.

Al-Jarida Oman

The Lebanese government has ordered the army to confine weapons to the state.

Hezbollah rejects calls to disarm and regards its arsenal as part of national defense.

The fragile Lebanese state faces one of its most dangerous moments since the civil war.

The talks could determine whether the region moves toward lasting peace or deeper conflict.