Israel and Lebanon Hold Direct Negotiations in Washington

Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon took place on Thursday evening in Washington, DC. The negotiations brought together Lebanon and Israel’s ambassadors to the United States, the US ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa, the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Lebanese side will ask for an extension to the current 10-day ceasefire as a precondition for continuing the talks.

An initial meeting between Israel and Lebanon occurred on April 14 in Washington, DC. Michael Issa, Mike Huckabee, and Marco Rubio were present at that initial meeting, apart from Huckabee. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his country will seek a full Israeli withdrawal and the return of Lebanese captives held by Israel.

Hundreds of protesters descended on downtown Beirut to show opposition to the talks a day before the previous talks earlier in April. On Wednesday, Israel killed five people in Lebanon, including front-line reporter Amal Khalil. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that an Israeli attack killed three people in Lebanon on Thursday.

Israel intensified its war on Lebanon on March 2. Hezbollah responded to Israeli attacks for the first time in more than 15 months on March 2. According to Hezbollah, its response on March 2 was a retaliation for the Israeli-US killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei two days earlier.

2 million people in Lebanon since March 2.

Residents are not allowed to return to their homes within the Israeli-claimed buffer zone of 10km from the border. Israel has demolished homes and villages within the 10km buffer zone. Al Jazeera visited three towns – al-Mansouri, Majdal Zoun, and Qlaileh – on a tour organised by Hezbollah.