Israel, Lebanon to meet in Washington to discuss normalization, Hezbollah disarmament

Delegations from Israel and Lebanon are set to convene in Washington for a crucial three-day round of talks aimed at addressing the disarmament of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and exploring the possibility of normalization between the two nations. The negotiations will proceed on two parallel tracks, focusing on both political and military aspects.

Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter will lead the Israeli delegation, concentrating on the political and diplomatic dimensions of the discussions. Concurrently, Brig.-Gen. Amichai Levin, head of the IDF’s Planning Directorate’s Strategic Division, will spearhead separate meetings concerning military matters. The Lebanese side will be represented by Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Maawad and former ambassador Simon Karam.

A central point of contention is a proposed pilot program requiring the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy in southern Lebanon and dismantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure. Lebanon advocates for this deployment to begin in areas currently under Israeli control, with a phased Israeli withdrawal. Israel, however, insists the initial phase should start in areas not occupied by its forces, seeking to first witness the Lebanese Army's capability in disarming Hezbollah before relinquishing territory.

These critical discussions unfold against the backdrop of Iran's increased engagement in Lebanon, now under U.S. sponsorship. This follows the recent U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland, which concluded with an agreement to establish a "deconfliction cell" involving Lebanon. This cell aims to prevent further military operations within the country, underscoring the complex regional dynamics influencing the negotiations.

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The parties agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure adherence to the termination of military operations in Lebanon.