The US State Department has confirmed that Israel and Lebanon will be holding a second round of talks in Washington, DC on Thursday.
The Israeli government is not saying a lot about this effort because, ultimately, this is not a process that Israel had chosen or gone to willingly.
There is the view that this was basically something imposed by the US president, much like the ceasefire which was also announced by Donald Trump.
Israel has maximalist demands, it continues to occupy Lebanese territory and has declared a so-called Yellow Line, much like in Gaza, where it is methodically demolishing entire Lebanese villages.
That so-called Yellow also extends to a Lebanese oil and gas field as well – all of that is going to be used as leverage, according to previous statements, in any possible negotiations with the Lebanese government which Israel views as weak but is willing to push it to use force to disarm Hezbollah.
That is the central Israeli demand, even if that costs Lebanon civil cohesion; that doesn’t really factor into the Israeli calculus because the main point is the occupation will continue, this demolition will persist, until and unless Israeli demands are met.
Unpacking Israel’s stance ahead of new Lebanon talksUnpacking Israel’s stance ahead of new Lebanon talks
By Nour Odeh
Reporting from near Ramallah, occupied West Bank
The US State Department has confirmed that Israel and Lebanon will be holding a second round of talks in Washington, DC on Thursday.
The Israeli government is not saying a lot about this effort because, ultimately, this is not a process that Israel had chosen or gone to willingly.
There is the view that this was basically something imposed by the US president, much like the ceasefire which was also announced by Donald Trump.
Israel has maximalist demands, it continues to occupy Lebanese territory and has declared a so-called Yellow Line, much like in Gaza, where it is methodically demolishing entire Lebanese villages.
That so-called Yellow also extends to a Lebanese oil and gas field as well – all of that is going to be used as leverage, according to previous statements, in any possible negotiations with the Lebanese government which Israel views as weak but is willing to push it to use force to disarm Hezbollah.
That is the central Israeli demand, even if that costs Lebanon civil cohesion; that doesn’t really factor into the Israeli calculus because the main point is the occupation will continue, this demolition will persist, until and unless Israeli demands are met.