Beirut / Jerusalem — December 3, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
For the first time in decades, representatives from Lebanon and Israel met directly Wednesday under the auspices of the international cease-fire monitoring mechanism established after the 2024 truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
The civilian-led talks took place at the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force in the border village of Naqura. Attendees included former Lebanese ambassador to the U.S., Simon Karam, and Israeli National Security Council official, Uri Resnick a departure from previous sessions reserved only for military representatives.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasised that the meeting is not a step toward broader normalisation, but strictly intended to ensure full implementation of the truce including “cessation of hostilities,” the release of Lebanese detainees, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory.
His Israeli counterpart’s office described the atmosphere as “positive,” indicating agreement to explore potential economic cooperation. However, it reiterated Israel’s demand that Hezbollah be disarmed before any normalisation process a longstanding red-line in Israeli policy.
The talks mark a fragile but significant shift in the region’s diplomatic landscape. For the first time since Lebanon and Israel have been formally at war (since 1948), both sides have engaged in direct civilian-level negotiations under international mediation. Observers caution that the path ahead remains perilous: while the cease-fire has held in parts, sporadic Israeli air-strikes targeting alleged Hezbollah positions continue, casting doubts on long-term peace prospects.