Historic meeting in Washington. Israel and Lebanon at one table

Representatives of Israel and Lebanon met on Tuesday in the US capital for the first direct talks since 1993. The government in Beirut wants a truce in the fight between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah. Israel wants the Iran-backed group to lay down its weapons. Hezbollah itself criticizes the negotiations and attacks Israel.

The meeting was opened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the talks a “historic opportunity.”

The negotiations take place during intense events in the Middle East. ABOUTThere is a ceasefire in the US and Israel's war with Iran for the last week.

The Lebanese armed organization Hezbollah, allied with Tehran, joined the conflict by shelling northern Israel. This was met with massive attacks by Israel on Lebanon, which emphasizes that it is fighting Hezbollah, not this country.

According to the Lebanese authorities, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. people. After stopping fighting with Iran, Israel did not stop its campaign against Hezbollah. The US and Israel claim that this war is not part of the agreement, although Iran and Pakistan, which is acting as an intermediary in the talks, also want these fighting to stop.

The issue of Lebanon therefore complicates talks on a permanent truce between the US, Israel and Lebanon.

The government in Beirut, focused on cooperation with the West, announced the disarmament of Hezbollah, which is hostile to the US and Israel. However, the Lebanese authorities are having difficulty enforcing this decision. The Shiite organization, considered a terrorist group by the West, was for years stronger than the regular Lebanese army and created a quasi-state in the south of the country.

Hezbollah itself rejects the laying down of arms, which is also demanded by Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously announced that the talks in Washington would focus on the disarmament of this group. His spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian added that there could be no truce in the fight against Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials said their country's delegation had a mandate to hold only ceasefire talks, Reuters wrote.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qasem called on the government in Beirut not to participate in talks with Israel and stressed that these negotiations were pointless and the group would not recognize their findings as binding.

Shortly after the talks in Washington began, Israel announced that it had shelled 13 towns in northern Israel.

Although the meeting is historic, it is not expected to bring a breakthrough, commented the Times of Israel website, citing Israeli officials.

During the talks in Washington, the Israeli delegation is led by that country's ambassador in Washington, Jechiel Leiter, and the Lebanese delegation is led by his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh-Moawad.

Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, both countries have been formally at war and do not maintain official diplomatic relations. Israel joined the civil war in Lebanon that started in 1975 and occupied the south of that country until 2000. Hezbollah has fought several wars with Israel. The last one in 2024. The conflict has seriously weakened the pro-Iranian group, but according to the Israeli authorities, the group has regained some of its capabilities. (PAP)

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