Cautious optimism in Lebanon as direct talks with Israel progress | Israel attacks Lebanon News

The third round of talks between Israel and Lebanon has begun in Washington, DC, just days before the “cease fire” ends. they did not stop the attack on Israel and Hezbollah’s response to them.

Conversationswhich began on Thursday, represents a step towards more difficult negotiations, with high-level delegations from Lebanon and Israel participating after the first preparatory sessions led by the ambassadors of the two countries in Washington.

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Lebanese officials hope the two-day talks will yield a new ceasefire deal and pave the way for a number of issues, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the first Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington in April, was with US President Donald Trump on a trip to China and did not attend on Thursday.

The Lebanese ambassador who is leading Thursday’s talks, Mr. Simon Karam, is a lawyer and a well-connected former Lebanese ambassador to the United States who recently represented Lebanon in direct negotiations with Israel on the use of preventing the outbreak of the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah.

On the Israeli side, Deputy National Security Advisor Yossi Draznin is expected to attend.

“We don’t want to underestimate the meaning of these talks, but they are diplomatic talks, except for the top leadership of Israel, Lebanon and the US,” said Al Jazeera’s Manuel Rapalo, in Washington, DC, adding that there are no diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Israel.

Trump has publicly called for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Aoun has refused to meet or speak directly with Netanyahu at this time – a move that could lead to Lebanon’s return.

Hezbollah, at the moment, is not part of the negotiations and has been vocally opposed to Lebanon conducting direct negotiations with Israel.

A lawmaker from the Iran-backed group, Ali Ammar, on Thursday reiterated his group’s rejection of direct talks, saying it was “free” for Israel.

However, “there is hope,” Al Jazeera’s Rapalo said.

“The contract expires on Sunday, so we hope that this will be at the forefront of the negotiations,” he said.

“Indeed, the goal is to prevent border issues from playing a major role in the regional conflict.”

A cautious hope

The United Nations earlier on Thursday expressed hope for direct talks.

“We believe that the latest talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, scheduled for today and tomorrow, will contribute to a peaceful and stable peace and pave the way to a lasting peace,” Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.

Haq said the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was continuing to monitor “numerous” aerial and military activities in all its locations, including several airstrikes on Wednesday by Israel.

“We reiterate our call on all parties to exercise strict restraint, ensure the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers and respect their obligations under international law,” he said.

In Lebanon, there is also hope that the violence will end as diplomatic efforts continue.

“I think the people here in southern Lebanon are eagerly awaiting the results of these meetings,” said Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, in Tire, Lebanon.

“Everyone understands that Lebanon is not ready to settle, legally speaking. There is a part of the law that prevents Lebanon from settling with Israel. People have realized that this can be a big obstacle to moving forward and finding a way to live in peace with Israel.”

However, the Lebanese people want an end to the violence, Hitto said.

“It has been more than two months of Israeli strikes, artillery strikes, airstrikes, airstrikes, systematic demolitions of towns and villages,” he said.

Israeli forces continue to fight daily in Lebanon despite a ceasefire announced on April 17 and later extended to May 17.

Three people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, Lebanese media reported.

Since March 2, Israel’s offensive in Lebanon has killed at least 2,896 people, injured more than 8,824, and displaced more than 1.6 million people, about one-fifth of the country’s population, according to Lebanese officials. Meanwhile, at least 200 children in Lebanon have been killed in Israel, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.