Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructs his cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon for the first time, with Washington set to host the historic talks next week aimed at disarming Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has ordered his cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon "as soon as possible," marking a dramatic diplomatic shift just one day after Israel carried out its deadliest bombardment of Lebanese territory since the war with Hezbollah began on March 2. The talks, which will be the first direct negotiations between the two countries, are set to take place at the US State Department in Washington next week, with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter representing Israel.
The decision came at the explicit request of President Donald Trump, who privately pressed Netanyahu to scale back Israeli strikes on Lebanon and move toward a political resolution with Beirut. Netanyahu framed the move as a response to "Lebanon's repeated requests" for dialogue, though Lebanese officials have not publicly confirmed making such requests. The negotiations are expected to focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing what Netanyahu described as "peace relations" between the two nations — a goal that would require dismantling decades of hostility and the military infrastructure of Iran's most powerful regional proxy.
The announcement has been met with cautious optimism internationally but deep skepticism in Lebanon and across the Arab world. Lebanese officials have not formally responded, and Hezbollah has repeatedly said it will not disarm under any circumstances. Critics point out that Netanyahu's offer of talks came within 24 hours of the largest Israeli air assault on Lebanon in this conflict, raising questions about whether the diplomatic gesture is genuine or designed to deflect mounting global condemnation. The US State Department confirmed it would host the talks but declined to comment on specific terms or timelines.