TEL AVIV
\nIsrael and Lebanon are expected to hold talks in Washington next week, a US State Department official said on Thursday amid mounting international concerns that Israel\u2019s bombing campaign could shatter an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire. The announcement marks a potentially significant diplomatic shift in a long-running conflict.
\nBut the talks come amid continued Israeli bombardment, disagreement over ceasefire terms, and competing international pressures \u2014 raising questions about whether diplomacy can meaningfully alter the trajectory of the war. According to Axios, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his government \u201cto begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.\u201d
\nThis is a notable change in Israeli policy, as officials had previously rejected diplomatic proposals and prioritized military operations against Hezbollah.The move follows pressure from Washington, according to reports by Axios, \u201csenior US officials said Witkoff asked Netanyahu to \u2018calm down\u2019 the strikes in Lebanon and open negotiations.\u201d
\nIran has threatened to abandon peace talks and has largely kept the Strait of Hormuz closed as a result of what it perceives as a breach of the areement. Meanwhile the US and Israel deny that the ceasefire applies to Israel\u2019s offensive against Lebanon. The Lebanese government, with French backing, has pushed for direct talks as a pathway to de-escalation.
\nAxios reports that the initiative aimed to \u201cprevent a prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon\u201d and potentially \u201copen the door to a historic peace deal.\u201d However, Israel initially rejected these proposals. According to Axios, Israeli officials said that Netanyahu and his Cabinet had initially preferred to escalate the war against Hezbollah, before coming under US pressure.
\nNetanyahu has framed the negotiations in ambitious terms. In a statement quoted by Axios, he said the talks, \u201cwill focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.\u201d The talks are expected to begin in Washington, with delegations led by the US ambassadors from both countries.
\nLebanon\u2019s representation
\nSeveral names have been circulated but it is likely that Lebanon will be represented by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, who was formerly a manager at the World Bank Development Data Group and is considered a fresh and technocratic placement as part of the government reshuffle.
\nAccording to Lebanese News outlet, aside from her corporate career she has also worked with the Lebanese prime minister on policies for economic recovery, with a focus on attracting foreign direct investment to postwar Lebanon. Moawad\u2019s profile signals Lebanon\u2019s interest in coupling political negotiations with economic stabilization and international engagement.
\nIsrael\u2019s representation
\nIsrael will be represented by Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, a seasoned political figure with close ties to Netanyahu and extensive experience in government. According to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Leiter has held several senior roles, including serving as an adviser to the late prime minister Ariel Sharon and \u201cchief of staff to then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His background includes positions in education policy and state-owned enterprises.
\nLeiter\u2019s public statements combine strategic alignment with the United States and a hardline security outlook. His appointment, and his proximity to Netanyahu, suggest that Israel\u2019s negotiating position will remain closely aligned with its current military strategy. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TEL AVIV Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold talks in Washington next week, a US State Department official said on Thursday amid mounting international concerns that Israel\u2019s bombing campaign could shatter an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire. The announcement marks a potentially significant diplomatic shift in a long-running conflict. But the talks come amid continued […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541207,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-541199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n