- 09:15
Lebanon is set to begin talks with Israel in Washington on Tuesday, the first direct negotiations since 1983, as Beirut seeks to reassert its role in regional affairs and prevent the country from becoming a bargaining chip in broader international negotiations.
Political activist and former MP Fares Souaid described the move as a historic break. “Since 1969, regional powers have alternated in negotiating in Lebanon’s name with Israel and the U.S. to improve their own bargaining position,” he said.
“Today, for the first time in decades, Lebanon is trying to free itself from regional tutelage,” Souaid said, adding, “Official Lebanon has the courage to act to negotiate directly with Israel.”
Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have repeatedly stressed that no party—regional or international—has the authority to negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf, in what appears to be a deliberate effort to separate the Lebanese-Israeli track from broader U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi underscored the point on Monday, saying Beirut was “pursuing a ceasefire through direct negotiations with Israel while separating the Lebanese track from the Iranian one,” and reiterating that the state alone has the authority to negotiate.
Souaid described Lebanon’s attempt to disentangle itself from Iran’s grip as “a diplomatic and political victory in itself" but warned that implementation remains the key challenge. “The question is whether Lebanon has the means to enforce its policies,” he said.
He pointed to structural weaknesses that could undermine the initiative, including the lack of national consensus around the initiative and limited international backing. “Arab countries are preoccupied with their crises, and Lebanon has not received clear support from major capitals, particularly the U.S.,” he said.
To address these challenges and avoid squandering what he called a rare diplomatic opening, Souaid urged domestic efforts to build consensus over the talks. “A national initiative is essential,” he said.
“There must be a unified discourse that provides guarantees to all communities, including the Shia community,” Souaid added, stressing that “the internal track must move in parallel with negotiations.”
He said that key political figures, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, may be quietly supportive of the diplomatic initiative. “There is an awareness that there is no alternative to direct negotiations with Israel if we want to resolve Lebanon’s core issues,” he said.
“If Lebanon seeks to end Israeli occupation, launch reconstruction, and achieve stability, it must address the fundamental problems in its relationship with Israel,” Souaid said. “At the very least, that means returning to the 1949 armistice framework.”
The initiative has gained momentum with reported U.S. backing and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to his country’s cabinet to pursue talks with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah and achieving peaceable relations.
Risks, however, remain high. Hezbollah could still seek to derail the process, with the group’s leader, Naim Qassem, calling on Monday evening for the talks to be cancelled. Meanwhile, Israel’s continuing military campaign in Lebanon could further complicate prospects for a breakthrough, as Lebanese officials press for a ceasefire.
Despite the challenges, Souaid argued that Lebanon has already achieved a significant milestone. “We have taken the Lebanese card out of Iran’s hands and put it back in Lebanon’s hands—and that is a victory.”
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