After the historic direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, their ambassadors to the US expressed willingness to address issues affecting them, saying they seek a resolution over the conflict plaguing Lebanon’s southern side, where Israeli forces have launched a massive assault against Hezbollah militants.
Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter hailed what he called a convergence of opinion about removing Hezbollah’s influence from Lebanon, saying this uniformity in stance encouraged him to call the discussions a “wonderful exchange.”
“The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah,” he said.
“Iran has been weakened. Hezbollah is dramatically weakened. This is an opportunity,” Leitter said.
“We discovered that we’re on the same side of the equation. That’s the most positive thing we could have come out with,” Leiter said. “We are both united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah.”
Consequently, the Lebanese Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad “reaffirmed the urgent need” for ending the Israel-Hezbollah war, “underscoring the principles of territorial integrity and full state sovereignty.”
She also called for an immediate ceasefire, the repatriation of displaced people to their homes, and “concrete measures to address and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis” resulting from the conflict.
The date and location of the next meeting will be announced when appropriate, she said.
Israel had earlier said that it aims to normalise its relations with Beirut, saying that its serious concern was only with Hezbollah, and not with Lebanon, as it continues its fight against the Iran-funded Islamist militia.
