Israel and Lebanon have resumed direct talks between civilian officials after decades. The purpose is to monitor the ceasefire and promote a permanent dialogue.
Israel confirmed that the first direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese civilian officials took place on Wednesday. This is the first contact in decades to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hezbollah movement, TASR reports, according to an AFP report.
“Today’s meeting in Lebanon is the first attempt to establish the basis for relations and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon,” an Israeli government spokeswoman told reporters.
The first meeting of civil officials
“There is no doubt that this direct meeting between Israel and Lebanon took place thanks to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu’s efforts to change the image of the Middle East,” the spokeswoman emphasized.
The US Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday welcomed the inclusion of civilian officials from Lebanon and Israel to monitor the ceasefire. “All parties welcomed the additional participation as an important step to ensure that this work is anchored in a sustained civil and military dialogue,” the embassy said. Lawyer Simon Karama, who previously served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, and Uri Resnick, a representative of Israel’s National Security Council, took part in the meeting.
Ceasefire in South Lebanon
Since November 2024, a cease-fire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah has been in effect in southern Lebanon, although Israel continues to attack Hezbollah-linked targets on Lebanese soil.
