Exclusive: Lebanon signals openness to talks with Israel to end war

Lebanon has begun diplomatic efforts to stop Israel's attacks while signalling openness to negotiations with Tel Aviv, according to officials and sources familiar with the discussions.

Information obtained by The New Arab confirms that Lebanon's cabinet had raised the issue of negotiations with Israel during its meeting last Monday as an item on its agenda.

Official sources said Lebanon was pursuing political and diplomatic efforts to halt Israeli attacks while remaining open to various forms of negotiations, though Israel has yet to respond to any proposals.

The developments come as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced the country's readiness to resume negotiations with Israel, saying Beirut was open to discussing any agenda, format or location for talks.

Discussions of potential negotiations have intensified in Lebanon amid rapidly escalating military developments and intensified Israeli strikes across multiple regions of the country.

Within a week alone, the attacks have killed nearly 400 people, wounded more than 1,000 and displaced roughly half a million.

In recent hours, local media reports suggested Lebanon may propose direct negotiations with Israel in a third country, possibly Cyprus, with the plan potentially conveyed through the United Nations' Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Israel and the United States have reportedly pushed for such a step.

According to The New Arab's sources, the issue of negotiations was raised in Monday's cabinet meeting under the third agenda item stressing Lebanon's commitment to avoiding being drawn into broader regional conflict.

The item called on countries guaranteeing the cessation of hostilities to obtain a clear and final Israeli commitment to halt attacks across all Lebanese territory.

It also reaffirmed Lebanon’s full commitment to the terms of the ceasefire declaration and announced the government’s readiness to resume negotiations under international supervision with civilian participation.

The wording did not specify whether negotiations would be direct or indirect, leaving the format, timing and location open to discussion.

Negotiation scenarios under discussion

Lebanese official sources told The New Arab, speaking on condition of anonymity, that no final decision was yet taken.

"Nothing has been decided definitively," the sources said. "There are ideas, proposals and possible scenarios being discussed among Lebanon’s leadership and within the cabinet."

They added that all forms of negotiation remain on the table if they serve Lebanon's interests.

"Lebanon is open to all forms of negotiation. It does not want war and is ready to discuss any solution that could end the current conflict," the sources said.

However, they stressed that Lebanon insists Israel must first halt all attacks and violations, including ongoing air, land and sea breaches.

"The situation cannot return to what it was before, with Israel repeatedly violating the ceasefire terms," the sources said.

Lebanon is also intensifying diplomatic contacts to pressure Israel to stop its attacks, with France currently leading the most active international effort. However, officials say there are still no clear signs of a breakthrough.

Among the proposals being discussed are a full ceasefire during negotiations or a temporary de-escalation period while talks take place.

Political sensitivities over direct talks

Direct negotiations with Israel remain highly controversial inside Lebanon.

For many Lebanese, such talks raise issues related to sovereignty, constitutional legitimacy and the question of recognising Israel.

A large segment of the public considers direct negotiations equivalent to normalisation with Israel rather than dealing with it as an enemy state.

Others support negotiations, arguing that reaching a political or security agreement could spare Lebanon from further wars and destruction. Several members of parliament have publicly backed such a step in recent days.

Strong US pressure

According to the information obtained, international pressure on Lebanon, particularly from the United States, is stronger than during the October 2023 war, or the period following the 27 November 2024 ceasefire agreement.

Washington is reportedly demanding rapid action to dismantle Hezbollah's weapons, insisting the group's military and security activities must be fully banned and its financial networks shut down.

US officials have also pushed for direct negotiations with Israel, while reportedly seeking to scale back meetings of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism committee and potentially sideline France from the process.

The United States is also maintaining a firm stance toward Israel's ongoing military campaign, effectively giving it the green light to continue its attacks, according to the information.

Washington believes the Lebanese state has delayed implementing its plan to place all weapons under state control.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's military operations since Monday, including continued rocket launches, suggest the group remains active on the front lines.

Lebanon says it is ready for talks

In an interview published Monday, Prime Minister Salam confirmed Lebanon's readiness to resume negotiations with Israel.

"We confirmed in Monday's cabinet meeting that we are ready to resume negotiations with Israel within a framework that includes a civilian component and international sponsorship," Salam told L'Orient-Le Jour newspaper.

"The issue of direct negotiations was not raised specifically, and the Israelis have not responded to our proposal. Nevertheless, we are open to discussing any agenda, any format and any location."

Salam added that Lebanon has been working daily with Arab, European and US partners to try to halt the war.

"The conflict is closely linked to the broader Israeli-American confrontation with Iran, while some of our partners, particularly Arab states, are primarily focused on their own interests and concerns within this conflict," he said.

President Aoun reiterates readiness for negotiations

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also told the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden and Norway that Lebanon had informed major powers and the United Nations of its readiness to resume negotiations to address security issues and halt Israeli escalation.

He said the government's decision to place all weapons under state control would be implemented according to a plan prepared by the army command when security conditions allow.

A Hezbollah parliamentary source told The New Arab that "the battlefield will determine the outcome for now", adding that the group remains militarily capable.

"Hezbollah gave the Lebanese state many opportunities over the past 15 months, but none of the concessions made by the government stopped Israel's violations," the source said.

The group announced that it had carried out 125 military operations against Israeli targets since Monday, describing the attacks as retaliation for the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and ongoing Israeli strikes across Lebanon.