by Barak Ravid
The Lebanese government and the Trump administration have asked Israel for a “pause” in its attacks against Hezbollah before direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon begin next week, according to two sources with knowledge.
Why it matters: The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has become a sticking point in the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which claims Israel is violating the ceasefire. The U.S. denies Lebanon was covered by the ceasefire, but has asked Israel to deescalate
- Still, the U.S., the Lebanese government and Israel don’t want to allow Iran to dictate any moves in Lebanon that will help its proxy, Hezbollah.
- Beirut says any ceasefire should be the result of negotiations between Israel and the government of Lebanon. Some Israeli officials agree and think it is in Israel’s interest to announce a “pause” in the context of its negotiations with the Lebanese government.
Driving the news: On Tuesday, the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington will meet under U.S. auspices of the State Department for a first round of direct talks. More detailed negotiations are expected to follow.
- On Friday, the ambassadors held a preparatory trilateral phone call with one of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s advisers.
- After the phone call, the Lebanese side said the parties agreed to meet on Tuesday in order to “discuss announcing a ceasefire.”
- Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said in a statement that Israel had agreed “to promote a peace agreement with Lebanon, but it did not agree to discuss a ceasefire with the terrorist organization Hezbollah.”
Behind the scenes: According to two sources, the Lebanese government asked Israel, through the U.S. mediators, to agree to make a “gesture” ahead of the meeting on Tuesday and “pause” its air strikes in the country.
- The Lebanese suggested that the Israelis go back to the understandings of the Nov. 2024 ceasefire and conduct strikes only against imminent threats from Hezbollah.
- The sources said the U.S. supports the Lebanese request and is urging Israel to accept it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reviewing the request and still hasn’t made a decision.
- An Israeli official said: “There is no ceasefire.”
Between the lines: Agreeing to a ceasefire would be politically problematic for Netanyahu. The Israeli government would rather hold negotiations with Lebanon “under fire.”
- But a second Israeli source said Netanyahu might agree to a short tactical pause on airstrikes.
What to watch: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is expected to visit Washington next week and meet Rubio. It will be the first bilateral visit by a senior Lebanese government official to Washington since the Trump administration assumed office.