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Israel-Lebanon Peace Talks Resume Thursday in Washington Amid Fragile Ceasefire

Israeli and Lebanese officials are scheduled for a second round of direct peace talks in Washington on Thursday, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The talks follow a fragile 10-day ceasefire that took effect after weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese delegation will be headed by former Ambassador Simon Karam, with goals including halting hostilities and ending the Israeli occupation of southern areas. The Lebanese presidency emphasized that these are separate negotiation tracks, presenting a choice between prolonged war and a negotiated settlement.

Key Points: Israel-Lebanon Second Round of Peace Talks Set for Thursday

  • Second round of direct talks in Washington
  • Mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
  • Follows a fragile 10-day ceasefire
  • Aims to halt hostilities and end Israeli occupation
2 min read

Second round of Israel-Lebanon peace talks on Thursday

Direct talks mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio aim to solidify ceasefire and address southern border occupation. Key officials from both sides to attend.

"No one else will participate on Lebanon's behalf or take its place in this mission. - Lebanese Presidency"

Jerusalem, April 20

Israeli and Lebanese officials will meet on Thursday for a second round of peace talks, an Israeli official confirmed on Monday.

The two sides will meet in Washington for direct talks, the official said on condition of anonymity, without providing further details, reports indicated.

"The second round of direct talks between Israel's Ambassador in Washington, Yechiel Leiter and his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, will take place on Thursday," an Israeli official told 'The Times of Israel'.

The meeting will be hosted in Washington at the State Department, and the talks will be mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other American diplomats.

Staffers from Israeli, Lebanese and US sides will be included in the meeting, the report said.

The meeting will be the first of its kind since a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT) after weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, the Lebanese presidency said on the social media platform X that the Lebanese delegation will be headed by former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, Simon Karam.

The presidency said the goals of the negotiations are to halt hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern areas, and deploy the army to the internationally recognised southern border.

"No one else will participate on Lebanon's behalf or take its place in this mission," it said.

It said the anticipated talks are separate from any other negotiation tracks, framing the situation as a choice between prolonged war with its humanitarian, social, economic, and sovereignty costs or a negotiated settlement.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between 16 and 17 April, following an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the US mediating. But the real test is whether both sides are genuinely committed. The ceasefire is fragile, and talks need to address the core issues, not just provide a temporary pause.
A
Arjun K
The involvement of former ambassadors is a smart move. Experienced diplomats can navigate these complex waters better. Hope they find a middle path for the sake of the common people suffering there.
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Sarah B
Reading this from an Indian perspective, it's a reminder of how vital border security and sovereignty are. Lebanon's goal to deploy its army to the southern border is crucial for any long-term peace.
V
Vikram M
A 10-day ceasefire is a start, but it's a band-aid. The article mentions "prolonged war" as the alternative. The international community must ensure this doesn't just become another cycle of violence. We've seen enough conflict in our own neighbourhood.
K
Karthik V
While I hope for peace, I have to be respectfully critical. The US mediation under Trump is mentioned, but his administration's approach in the Middle East has been... inconsistent. I hope the current mediators are more balanced and effective for both Israel and Lebanon.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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