Israeli and Lebanese officials will engage in peace negotiations in Washington on Thursday, an Israeli source told Reuters on Monday under condition of anonymity, confirming this marks the first contact of this kind following the implementation of the ten-day ceasefire that took effect last week.
The scheduled talks take place during a period when American officials are working to extend the ceasefire. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington is pushing in this direction, however he avoided clarifying whether he supports the initiation of direct negotiations with Israel, a possibility that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is reportedly considering. Israel will be represented by its ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, according to the same source.
Israel & Lebanon talks: Historic contacts, what to expect
Lebanon’s MTV television network reported that the timing of Aoun’s visit to Washington will depend on developments in the coming days and whether a ceasefire extension will be achieved during the weekend. According to the same report, the Lebanese side insists that President Aoun’s meeting with American President Donald Trump take place on a bilateral level, without the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a separate statement, Lebanon’s Energy Minister Joe Sandi said that the map published by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which shows an “advanced naval defense zone” extending from Lebanon’s coast, does not affect the maritime boundary agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon in 2022.
“From a legal perspective, this map changes nothing regarding the fact that there is a maritime delimitation agreement,” Sandi told Reuters. “Simply put, the agreement remains valid and nothing changes.”
