Israel and Lebanon opened negotiations – the first round since the 1980s – in an attempt to open a dialogue between the two countries amid a ceasefire in force in the country. This information was published on Wednesday (11/3) by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), located in the Lebanese Naqoura region. The Lebanese delegation was headed by former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, Simon Karam, while the Israeli side sent Uri Resnick, Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the National Security Council.
The US special envoy to Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, also participated in the meeting.
According to the Israeli government, the meeting was positive. The issues discussed centered on establishing relations between Tel Aviv and Beirut, whose official relations have been cut off since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, economic cooperation, and disarming Hezbollah.
Read also
-
world
Lebanon: Hezbollah leader guarantees the group will not disarm
-
world
Israel kills Hezbollah military commander in an air strike in Lebanon
-
world
Israel violates the truce in Lebanon and attacks the Palestinian refugee camp
-
world
The United Nations calls for an end to the aggression after the Israeli shooting into Lebanon
An excerpt from the statement issued by Netanyahu’s office said, “The meeting took place in a positive atmosphere, and it was agreed to formulate ideas to enhance potential economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.” He added, “Israel has made clear that disarming Hezbollah is mandatory, regardless of the progress of economic cooperation.”
Lebanon was severely affected by the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah last year. Therefore, the Lebanese government responded to the requests of the United States, which brokered the recent ceasefire that ended the 14-month conflict.
But one of these obstacles served as an obstacle to achieving full peace in the country: disarming Hezbollah. This measure, which is part of the North American plan, is not accepted by the Shiite group that advocates the use of weapons to contain Israeli attacks on Lebanese lands and people.