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Lebanon and Israel held their first direct and public talks in more than four decades on Wednesday in the southern town of Naqoura, discussing early confidence-building measures and potential economic cooperation under U.S. mediation.
The meeting marked the first direct and public talks between Lebanon and Israel since 1983.
The talks included civilian representatives from both sides: former Lebanese ambassador Simon Karam and Israel’s National Security Council senior director for foreign policy, Yori Resnick, in addition to the U.S. special envoy for Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus.
According to information reported by the U.S. outlet Axios from informed sources, the meeting focused largely on initial introductions between the two sides, while economic cooperation, particularly regarding the reconstruction of conflict-affected areas in southern Lebanon, emerged as the central issue.
The source said the two parties discussed small joint projects along the border and agreed to hold a second meeting before the end of the year to develop economic proposals that could help build confidence.
A U.S. official told Axios that Washington’s long-term vision is to establish an “economic zone” along the Lebanon-Israel border, free of Hezbollah and heavy weapons, stressing that “all parties agree that the primary objective is the disarmament of Hezbollah.”
He added that Israel’s recent assassination of Hezbollah commander Haitham al-Tabatabai has given the Israeli government more political room to maneuver and delayed a potentially large-scale military operation in Lebanon.
The official said the Trump administration believes Israel is unlikely to resume war in the coming weeks, despite hard-line statements from some Israeli politicians and generals.
He added that Washington had been working since last March to launch direct talks, a goal achieved after the new U.S. ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, persuaded the Lebanese government to participate, while Ortagus secured Israel’s agreement after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Tuesday.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the two sides agreed to meet again before the end of the month, expecting practical proposals for economic cooperation.
An Israeli source said Israel’s involvement in Lebanon’s economic files sends a message that Hezbollah’s role in the state is ending, adding that progress depends on addressing the Hezbollah issue.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a trilateral meeting in Naqoura between Resnick, the U.S. envoy and Lebanese representatives was held in a “positive” atmosphere as part of ongoing security dialogue, and focused on ideas to expand economic cooperation.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the two sides “have not yet reached the stage of peace talks,” noting that the meetings aim only to halt hostilities, secure a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and obtain the release of Lebanese detainees.
He reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, stressing that economic relations come only after peace.
The meeting follows a Nov. 27 ceasefire after a year of clashes. Israel continues daily strikes and holds positions in the south, while Lebanon begins a U.S.- and Israeli-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah, a process slowed by deep internal divisions.
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