ALBAWABA- Israel and Lebanon held rare direct talks in Naqoura on Wednesday, marking the first civilian-to-civilian dialogue between the two countries in decades.
The U.S.-mediated meeting, led by American envoy Morgan Ortagus, brought cautious optimism to an increasingly fragile ceasefire while exposing deep rifts over Hezbollah’s future.
The session, convened at a UNIFIL base under the Ceasefire Implementation Committee, included Israel’s National Security Council deputy head for foreign policy, Uri Resnick, Lebanese diplomat and former U.S. ambassador Simon Karam, Ortagus, and representatives from France and the United Nations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the talks, describing the atmosphere as “positive,” and announced plans for follow-up meetings.
Discussions centered on exploring non-military economic cooperation, trade, infrastructure links, and future civilian initiatives. Netanyahu’s office stressed that “ideas will be formulated to advance possible Israel–Lebanon economic cooperation,” emphasizing these discussions were separate from ongoing security disputes.
Netanyahu reiterated that Hezbollah’s full disarmament remains a non-negotiable Israeli demand. “Disarming Hezbollah is mandatory, regardless of economic progress,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. Ortagus reinforced the message after the meeting: “Either Hezbollah disarms, or Israel will be forced to act.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam cautiously welcomed the civilian track as a way to “defuse tensions,” but insisted Lebanon is still “far from normalization.” He conditioned any disarmament steps on Israel's withdrawal from five disputed border points and halting strikes in southern Lebanon.
Salam also proposed allowing the committee, supported by potential U.S. and French participation, to verify claims of rearmament and monitor Lebanese Army operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
The Naqoura session was the 14th meeting of the monitoring mechanism created after the November 27, 2024, U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended 14 months of cross-border clashes following the Hamas attack of October 2023.
The agreement required Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River, Israel to pull back from southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese Army to enforce a demilitarized zone under UN Resolution 1701.
