Israeli debate intensifies as military official joins Lebanon talks in Washington

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian 

The Lebanese file has sparked heated debate in Israel, reaching a peak after reports revealed that the Israeli army’s head of the Strategic Division, Amichai Levin, will participate in direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel scheduled for next week in Washington.

Levin is set to lead a delegation that includes military and professional personnel, with his participation signaling that the talks may be entering a phase focused on understandings regarding future arrangements on the ground.

For now, it remains unclear whether the delegation will directly join the negotiations to present the field situation, press Lebanon to act against Hezbollah, or provide briefings to diplomats during breaks.

In any case, the move has faced widespread criticism in Israel.

Days before the negotiations, areas in Acre, the Krayot region near Haifa, and western Galilee came under Hezbollah rocket fire, amid reports that Washington is attempting to secure a lasting calm.

There is also speculation that the talks could conclude either with an announcement of understandings regarding the next phase or an agreement to extend the ceasefire for another period, a prospect that angered northern Israeli municipal leaders and other groups, who argued that such a deal would amount to “an agreement to renew fire toward the north, not a ceasefire in Lebanon.”

Those views were reinforced by opinion polls showing that 59% of Israelis support occupying more Lebanese territory and intensifying fighting against Hezbollah, compared with 32% opposed to the idea, while 9% expressed no opinion.

On the ground, as efforts continue to find systems capable of countering Hezbollah drones, which wounded three Israeli soldiers in recent hours, the Israeli army has reduced the size of its forces in southern Lebanon from five divisions to three.

Two divisions remain prepared for defensive operations, while the 36th Division is focused on offensive missions pending developments in the Washington talks.