She submits a plan to end the war in , which requires the Beirut government to recognize Israel – an unprecedented step. The proposal, which is being considered by Israel and the US, is aimed at reducing tension, de-escalating it and paving the way for a historic peace deal, one that is “on the boil”.
The plan and key commitments
The proposal envisages negotiations supported by France and the US, with the aim of a political declaration within a month. Beirut will recognize Israel and pledge to respect its sovereignty and integrity, while both sides will reaffirm their commitment to UN resolutions and the 2024 ceasefire agreement.
Withdrawal and disbandment of forces
The Lebanese Armed Forces will re-establish a presence south of the Litani River, while Israel will withdraw, within a month, from the territories it occupied since the beginning of the conflict. UN peacekeepers will verify the disbandment of Hezbollah, south of Litani, with international oversight for the rest of Lebanon.
Permanent non-aggression pact and border demarcation
The proposal calls for Lebanon to begin negotiations on a permanent non-aggression pact with Israel within two months, ending a formal state of war since 1948. The final phase includes the demarcation of the Israel-Lebanon and Lebanon-Syria borders by the end of 2026.
The role of the US and the next moves
Israel has assigned Ron Dermer – Netanyahu’s “right hand man” – to manage the negotiations with Lebanon, in cooperation with the US government. Despite the prospect of the French proposal, officials warn that without strong American leadership, reaching a deal remains difficult.
The Haaretz article
Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks within the next few days, the first talks since the start of the war with Iran, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported today, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.
US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will attend the talks, which may take place in Paris or Cyprus, with Israeli Prime Minister confidant Ron Dermer leading the Israeli delegation, according to Haaretz.
The negotiations are expected to focus on ending the conflict in Lebanon and disarming the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, the report said.
Hezbollah opened fire on Israel on March 2, saying it was retaliating for the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, starting the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
Israel has since launched an extensive bombing campaign against the Shiite militant group, which has killed more than 800 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of others, while Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets along the border.
