Israel and the Lebanese government will hold their first related negotiations in Washington, D.C. on January 14, as the conflict between Israel and the pro-Iran militant group Hezbollah has emerged as the biggest obstacle to ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Israeli media outlet Times of Israel reported on the 10th that the first face-to-face negotiations between the Israeli and Lebanese governments to discuss issues including Hezbollah's disarmament are scheduled to take place at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. on the 14th. The Lebanese delegation will be led by Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamade-Moawad, while the Israeli delegation will be headed by Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa will participate as a mediator. CBS and AP also reported that a three-party ceasefire meeting mediated by the U.S. State Department will be held in Washington, D.C. next week.
Prior to the meeting, representatives from each country and Mike Needham, a State Department counselor, are expected to coordinate detailed agenda items through a phone conference. In connection with this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement the previous day announcing that Israel would begin negotiations with Lebanon with the goal of disarming Hezbollah and reaching a complete peace agreement between the two countries. According to AFP, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also ordered after a cabinet meeting on the 9th that "the army and security forces should immediately begin measures to fully establish state authority throughout Beirut governorate." Prime Minister Salam issued instructions that appeared to have forced disarmament of Hezbollah in mind, stating that "all weapons must be in the hands of legitimate authorities only, and the state must have a monopoly on the use of force."
Despite being neighboring countries, Israel and Lebanon have never established official diplomatic relations to date. Accordingly, some have interpreted Prime Minister Netanyahu's negotiation declaration as a message that Israel could officially recognize the Lebanese government if only Hezbollah can be neutralized.
