Israel said Wednesday that its first direct discussions with Lebanon in more than four decades were held in a “positive atmosphere,” raising cautious hopes for progress between the two countries, which remain technically at war.
The talks took place during a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism in southern Lebanon © Mena Today
Israel said Wednesday that its first direct discussions with Lebanon in more than four decades were held in a “positive atmosphere,” raising cautious hopes for progress between the two countries, which remain technically at war.
According to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the meeting “was conducted in a positive atmosphere, and it was agreed to develop ideas to promote potential economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.”
The statement also reiterated that the disarmament of Hezbollah remains “essential” from Israel’s perspective.
The talks took place during a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism in southern Lebanon, bringing together civilian officials from both sides. It marked the first direct encounter between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in over 40 years.
While no concrete agreements were announced, the fact that both countries described the meeting as constructive was widely noted as a rare diplomatic opening in a context long dominated by tension, conflict, and proxy confrontations.
Israel and Iran exchanged airstrikes on Wednesday, as Iran's military rejected President Donald Trump's assertion the U.S. was in negotiations to end the war which has roiled energy and financial markets, saying the U.S. is negotiating with itself.
Lebanese Christian leader Samir Geagea delivered a verdict Tuesday that many Lebanese have long wanted to hear but few dared to say out loud: Hezbollah is "finished" in Lebanon, and Iran, not the Lebanese state, will foot the bill for the destruction it caused.
Iran named a former Revolutionary Guards commander and senior figure in the hardline political faction on Tuesday to replace the powerful head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes last week.
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