In the midst of the escalation in the pace of field work, the Lebanese file is moving towards a path of direct discussions, in parallel with an active political movement in both Beirut and Tel Aviv.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that he intends to undertake a foreign tour aimed at supporting the Lebanese position, mobilizing international support for efforts to stop the war, and restoring the state’s sovereignty over its entire territory and its decision regarding peace and war. He stressed that Lebanon’s vision for resolving the crisis is clear, and is based on a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, then starting direct negotiations, in conjunction with the completion of the arms inventory process, towards which the government in Beirut has taken an additional step.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his agreement to open a negotiating channel with Lebanon, despite the continuation of military operations. He announced that he had issued his instructions to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” and explained that these discussions would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between Israel and Lebanon.
In the context of the preparations, news spread in Beirut that the Lebanese delegation would be limited in number and headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, while the Israeli side would be represented by Ron Drimmer. The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are scheduled to hold a preliminary meeting at the US State Department in Washington on Tuesday, in preparation for officially launching the negotiating track.
These developments come in light of increasing international pressure to contain the escalation and prevent it from sliding into a broader confrontation, especially after rounds of military escalation and severe political tension between the two parties. Western capitals, led by Washington, have intensified their contacts to push for establishing a ceasefire and opening a direct negotiating channel to address the outstanding issues.
Locally, the Lebanese government seeks to establish an approach based on restricting the negotiation decision to the state, and linking any political path to restoring the authority of legitimate institutions over the entire Lebanese territory. On the other hand, Israel puts the issue of disarming Hezbollah as a priority on the agenda, which portends complex negotiations in which security, political, and regional considerations overlap.
Between the Lebanese diplomatic movement abroad, and the expected preliminary meeting in Washington, the next stage seems decisive in determining the course of the crisis, whether towards consolidating a political calm or entering into a long and complex negotiating path.
