A second round of U.S.-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel will be held in Washington on Thursday, during which Beirut plans to request a one-month extension of the ceasefire that has been in effect since April 17.
Israel, for its part, called on Lebanon on Wednesday to “cooperate” in confronting Hezbollah, which opposes the talks, while insisting there are no “serious disputes” with Lebanon.
The latest war between Hezbollah and Israel began on March 2 after the group launched rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.
The two sides, officially at war since 1948, held their first round of talks in Washington on April 14—the first such direct negotiations since 1993—in an effort to end the conflict.
Two days after those talks, the United States announced a 10-day ceasefire in the war, which has killed more than 2,400 people in Lebanon and displaced over one million others.
Thursday’s talks will include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is also expected to join the meeting, according to a U.S. State Department official.
The session comes as Hezbollah and Israel continue to exchange accusations of violating the ceasefire.
Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah members allegedly preparing “terrorist attacks,” while also carrying out demolition operations in border villages and preventing residents of dozens of villages from returning.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, says it is conducting operations against Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory and targeting northern Israel in response to what it considers violations of the truce.
According to the ceasefire agreement published last week by the U.S. State Department, Israel retains the “right of self-defense” against operations being carried out or planned against it.
A Lebanese official source said on Wednesday that Beirut will request an extension of the ceasefire for one month, along with a halt to Israeli demolition operations in areas where its forces remain deployed and full adherence to the ceasefire terms.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also confirmed that contacts are underway to extend the ceasefire period.
He stated that the upcoming negotiations are focused on ending Israeli attacks completely and securing a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Following the first round of talks, both sides agreed to launch direct negotiations “at a mutually agreed place and time,” according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Lebanon has appointed former ambassador to Washington Simon Karam as head of its negotiating delegation.
“Obstacle to Peace”
In Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called on Lebanon to cooperate and make joint efforts to confront Hezbollah.
Speaking to diplomats during an event marking the 78th anniversary of Israel’s independence, he said: “Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will resume on Thursday in Washington, and I call on the Lebanese government to cooperate.”
He added that such cooperation is needed more by Lebanon than by Israel and requires moral clarity and political courage, stressing that there is no real alternative to ensuring a peaceful future for both sides.
Sa’ar also said Israel has no “serious disputes” with Lebanon and argued that “the one obstacle to peace and normalization is Hezbollah.”
Four people were killed on Wednesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was also killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, while another journalist, Zeinab Faraj, was injured.
— AFP
