BEIRUT: Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks Wednesday (Dec 3) in many years, a part of a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism within the conflict with militant group Hezbollah, a supply near the talks instructed AFP.
The assembly was happening on the UN peacekeeping power’s headquarters in Lebanon Naqura close to the border with Israel, the supply mentioned, as a part of a mechanism to supervise the ceasefire that took maintain in November 2024.
Morgan Ortagus, the US particular envoy for Lebanon, additionally attended Wednesday’s assembly, the supply added. The USA has been piling stress on Lebanon to quickly disarm Hezbollah.
Ortagus’ participation got here a day after her go to to Jerusalem the place she met Israeli International Minister Gideon Saar. Israeli media mentioned she additionally met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Till now, Israel and Lebanon, which haven’t any formal diplomatic relations, had insisted on holding navy officers within the position.
The US has pushed for direct talks between the 2 neighbours in a bid to stabilise the area and additional weaken Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Netanyahu’s workplace introduced he was sending a civilian consultant to fulfill officers in Lebanon, in what it known as a primary try to ascertain a foundation for ties between the 2 international locations.
Lebanese President Joseph’s Aoun workplace additionally mentioned Wednesday that his delegation can be led by former ambassador Simon Karam and that it had been knowledgeable that Israel would come with “a non-military member in its delegation”.
The appointment of a civilian on the Lebanese facet got here after Lebanon declared itself prepared for negotiations with its southern neighbour.
Netanyahu has repeatedly indicated that Lebanon ought to be part of the Abraham Accords, below which a handful of Arab and Muslim international locations have normalised ties with Israel.
