Israel and Lebanon have held their first direct talks in decades, marking a significant step towards potential cooperation between the two nations. The meeting, which took place at the United Nations peacekeeping force headquarters in Naqoura, Lebanon, was facilitated by a US-brokered ceasefire that ended the war between Israel and the military group Hezbollah in November 2024.
The talks, attended by civilian representatives from both sides, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, were described as “historic” by a spokeswoman for Netanyahu. The meeting was also attended by US Special Envoy for Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus. This development is seen as an initial step towards possible future cooperation between the two nations, which have been at odds for decades.
The US has been pushing for direct contact between Israel and Lebanon as border tensions have escalated. Israel has accused Iran-backed Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and attempting to rebuild its military capabilities. The ceasefire was established after more than a year of cross-border hostilities, which began when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israeli territory in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The clashes eventually escalated into a full Israeli offensive, resulting in significant civilian casualties and the destruction of weapons stockpiles.
Under the terms of the armistice, the Lebanese army is required to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. However, Israel has expressed concerns that the steps taken so far have been insufficient and has intensified strikes. Lebanon has warned that Israeli airstrikes could lead to a “new war.” Lebanese Prime Minister Salam stated that the first phase of bringing all weapons under state authority hinges on an Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas and that Beirut is open to US and French verification of any remaining Hezbollah weapons caches in the south.
The talks between Israel and Lebanon are significant, given the history of conflict between the two nations. The last direct talks were held in 1983, following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, which produced an agreement that was never ratified. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has urged Lebanon to join the Abraham Accords, an agreement under which several Arab and Muslim states have normalized ties with Israel. However, Beirut has not endorsed this approach.
The meeting between Israel and Lebanon marks a crucial step towards potential cooperation and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict between the two nations. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether these talks will lead to a lasting peace agreement and improved relations between Israel and Lebanon.