In a prominent diplomatic development that represents a shift towards direct negotiation in the Lebanese issue, the first tripartite phone call between Lebanon, the United States, and Israel was announced this evening in Washington. It was agreed to hold an official meeting next week to discuss the ceasefire and begin the negotiation process.
The Presidency’s Media Office issued the following statement:
“Based on the initiative launched by the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, which is based on diplomatic work by announcing a ceasefire and going to direct negotiations with Israel, and after the international and Arab contacts that President Aoun recently conducted in light of the escalation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the American administration decided to assign the US State Department to play the role of mediator between Lebanon and Israel.
In implementation of this, and based on President Aoun’s directives to the Lebanese Ambassador in Washington, a phone call was made at nine o’clock in the evening Beirut time, the first between Lebanon, represented by its ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamada Moawad, and Israel, represented by its ambassador to Washington, Yehiel Leiter, and with the participation of the United States Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, who is in Washington.
During the call, it was agreed to hold the first meeting next Tuesday at the US State Department headquarters to discuss announcing a ceasefire and the date for the start of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under American sponsorship.
This development is considered part of a Lebanese presidential initiative based on revitalizing the diplomatic track, in an attempt to contain the escalation on the ground and open a political outlet for a ceasefire, in preparation for entering into direct negotiations under American auspices.
