Yesterday in Washington, direct talks were held between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats regarding a ceasefire in Lebanon, marking the first such meeting since 1993 which also took place in Washington. Israel was pressured into talks with Lebanon after the US struck a ceasefire agreement with the Iranian regime. Talks between the US and Iran have collapsed but the ceasefire is still holding.
Israel is still conducting heavy bombing campaigns in the south of Lebanon and has opposed the Lebanese government’s request for an immediate ceasefire. Hezbollah was supposed to withdraw from the south of Lebanon according to a United Nations Security Council resolution in 2006, and also as per the latest ceasefire agreement in 2024, but Hezbollah has never kept its commitments.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has insisted that talks need to be successful to avert further destruction and killing. He declared a major humanitarian catastrophe as more than 1.2 million have been displaced. Israel on the other hand is insisting on maximalist demands including occupying the south of Lebanon. The EU is insisting that Lebanon’s sovereignty should be respected in full.
Below videos of the talks and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter.
Newsroom
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