US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that Israel and Lebanon would hold direct talks on Thursday, adding that “it has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken.”
“Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
While Trump did not explicitly name the two participants in the slated conversation, it is assumed that he was referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese source tells AFP they have no knowledge of slated Netanyahu-Aoun talks
However, a Lebanese source commented on Trump’s announcement, telling Agence France-Presse that he has no knowledge of any imminent conversation between Netanyahu and Aoun.
If a conversation does take place between the two, it would be an unusual move given the absence of official diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the ongoing tensions along the northern border, with Hezbollah rocket and drone launches into Israel and IDF counterterrorism operations in southern Lebanon, aimed at disarming the terror group.
At the same time, efforts to advance an arrangement between the sides are facing challenges. Lebanon is expected to demand a ceasefire as a precondition for any public and direct talks at such a high level, while Israel remains hesitant at this stage to commit to a ceasefire, citing the need to continue operations against Hezbollah.
The talks would take place after the Security Cabinet meets to discuss the ceasefire in Lebanon, without agreeing on how to implement the halt to fighting.