Israel and Lebanon to Hold First Civilian-Level Talks in Naqoura

Israel and Lebanon are set to take part in a new round of discussions later today on the Blue Line in Naqourathe, headquarters of Unifil in Southern Lebanon, where civilian officials will join the military representatives who traditionally oversee the frontier ceasefire. The move marks the first attempt by both sides to build a framework for economic ties between the countries.

The shift follows a year of unusual calm along the northern border, during which Hezbollah has not fired a single rocket at Israel. Despite its public threats, the terror group has not responded to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s “chief of staff” inside Lebanon, in what Israeli officials view as a moment of Lebanese vulnerability.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the head of the National Security Council, Gil Reich, to send a representative on his behalf. The Prime Minister’s Office later confirmed the directive, saying, “This is a first attempt to create a basis for economic relations and cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.” According to officials, Israel sees the talks as an opportunity to test whether the Lebanese government is genuinely prepared for a more stable, long-term arrangement.

The National Security Council selected Uri Resnick, to head the Israeli delegation and represent Israel at Wednesday’s talks, which remains under the umbrella of the mechanism responsible for maintaining the 2024 ceasefire along the Blue Line. While the committee’s mandate is originally military, both sides are expected to explore limited areas of cooperation if the meeting proceeds without disruption.

Lebanon, which remains officially in a state of war with Israel, has also taken the unusual step of sending a civilian envoy. President Joseph Aoun appointed Simon Karam, a former ambassador to the United States, to head the Lebanese delegation. Earlier, Lebanon’s foreign minister declared that the country is “entering a new phase of negotiations with Israel, one with a political character that will head the Lebanese team.”

The inclusion of diplomats on both sides comes after sustained pressure from U.S. special envoy for Lebanon Morgan Ortagus and American Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa, who urged Israel and Lebanon to add civilian officials to the talks, arguing that progress on economic and governance issues is impossible under a purely military format.

Officials in Lebanon  have hinted in recent months that they are open to discussions aimed at strengthening the fragile truce. Israel believes Hezbollah’s weakened standing inside Lebanon has created space for diplomatic outreach that would have been unthinkable only a year ago.