Ceasefire as entry point: Lebanon defines framework for Israel negotiations

Report by Petra Abou Haidar, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi

Lebanon's official position on potential negotiations with Israel is centered on three key conditions: securing a stable ceasefire, ensuring Israel's compliance, and obtaining U.S. guarantees to enforce commitments already made in Washington.

The stance is being led by the presidency under Joseph Aoun, which insists that no formal negotiation track will begin before a ceasefire is firmly established. Any talks would be headed by Ambassador Simon Karam.

Discussions about a possible visit by Aoun to Washington, D.C. remain undefined. Officials say that if such a trip takes place, it would be limited to talks with Donald Trump, with no meeting currently planned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Any meeting between Aoun and Netanyahu would depend on progress in the negotiation process.

Questions have been raised about how Lebanon would respond if Washington were to push for such a meeting. Official sources told LBCI that Aoun remains firm in his position and that the United States understands the sensitivity of the issue at this stage.

According to these sources, Washington is aware that Israel has not fully adhered to the ceasefire it had agreed to, including commitments made directly to Trump.

Despite the diplomatic activity, negotiations are not entirely stalled. Near-daily contacts are ongoing between Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and the U.S. State Department. 

Lebanon is also awaiting Washington's decision on a date for a third round of talks, which would bring together Moawad and the Israeli ambassador, with a focus on securing a ceasefire.

However, for now, no significant breakthroughs have been achieved. Attention is also turning to upcoming international developments, including a summit in Beijing and the outcome of ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, both of which could influence the trajectory of the Lebanon-Israel file.