Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to engage in direct talks within days, marking the first negotiations between the two sides since Lebanon was pulled deeper into the regional confrontation tied to the Iran war, according to a report in the Israeli daily Haaretz.
Two people familiar with the matter told Haaretz that the meetings could be hosted in Paris or Cyprus and are likely to include senior representatives from both governments. The report named Jared Kushner - the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump - as expected to have a role in the discussions. It also identified Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the probable head of Israel's delegation.
Officials plan to focus the talks on stopping the fighting in Lebanon and clarifying the role of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group that has carried out cross-border attacks against Israel. Tensions intensified after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel on March 2, saying the strikes were in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. In response, Israel launched an extensive bombing campaign against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
Reports indicate the Israeli strikes have resulted in more than 770 deaths and have displaced hundreds of thousands of people inside Lebanon, while Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets across the border. The proposed direct talks may be an early diplomatic effort to contain the conflict and to prevent further escalation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier as the wider regional war continues.
The precise agenda, participants beyond the individuals named in the report, and the exact timing and location remain subject to confirmation by official channels. The Haaretz account cites two sources familiar with the matter but does not provide additional documentary detail. If the meetings proceed as described, they would represent the first direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon since the recent intensification of hostilities tied to the Iran war.
Summary: Direct Israel-Lebanon talks are expected imminently, possibly in Paris or Cyprus, aimed at halting fighting in Lebanon and addressing Hezbollah's role; Jared Kushner and Israel's Ron Dermer are reported as likely participants.