PM Office Responds Positively to Israel-US-Lebanon Joint Talks

The Prime Minister’s Office said the Israel–Lebanon–US meeting held earlier Wednesday in Lebanon took place “in a positive atmosphere,” describing the tone among the delegations as constructive.

According to the PMO, “The meeting was conducted in a positive spirit, and it was agreed that ideas would be developed to promote possible economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.” Israeli officials added that any economic progress must be tied to core security benchmarks.

Israel stressed that Hezbollah’s disarmament remains a non-negotiable requirement. The PMO’s readout underscored that “Israel emphasized that the disarmament of Hezbollah is mandatory, regardless of progress in economic cooperation.” Jerusalem has repeatedly argued that Hezbollah has already violated the existing ceasefire by refusing to disarm as required, while continuing to expand its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

The discussion, held in Naqoura just across the border, marked the first direct talks between the two countries in decades. Israel said all sides agreed to keep the channel open.

Israel’s delegation was led by Uri Resnick, deputy director for foreign policy at the National Security Council. Morgan Ortagus, the US special representative for Lebanon, headed the American team, while Lebanon was represented by former ambassador to the US Simon Karam.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized Gil Reich, acting head of the National Security Council, to dispatch an envoy to Lebanon for meetings with political and economic officials. Netanyahu’s office described the effort as “an initial attempt to create a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.”

The outreach comes as Israeli and American officials warn that the IDF may be forced to launch a major operation if Beirut fails to advance the long-stalled process of dismantling Hezbollah’s arsenal and military forces.

Lebanon’s prime minister, addressing speculation about broader diplomatic moves, said that if a peace agreement were ever reached, “normalization will follow, but we are not there at all.” He emphasized that the day’s session “was not peace talks.”