Israel and Lebanon on the 2nd (local time) resumed direct talks in Washington, D.C., to end armed clashes in Lebanon and sign a peace agreement.
Yehiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the United States, and Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, met that morning at the U.S. Department of State building.
With U.S.-Iran end-of-war talks seen as entering the final stage, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian armed faction in Lebanon, have emerged as a new variable, prompting the United States to step in as mediator.
Russia's Tass news agency and Germany's dpa, citing Lebanese media, reported that the United States proposed a plan for both sides to de-escalate tensions in stages over 60 days.
The proposal is said to include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon areas they occupied for operations to root out Hezbollah, with the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers deployed there to prevent renewed hostilities.
Israel has reportedly demanded the dismantling of Hezbollah's military organization and safeguards against renewed hostilities as conditions for withdrawal.
This is the fourth time since on the 14th to 15th that Israel and Lebanon have entered direct talks. The talks are also expected to run for two days.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the core of the problem is Iran attacking Israel through Hezbollah and trying to link that to end-of-war talks with the United States to use as a bargaining chip.
Rubio said at a U.S. Senate hearing that day, "The governments of Lebanon and Israel could sign a peace agreement as soon as tomorrow," adding, "The problem is Hezbollah."
Rubio said, "The biggest obstacle for Lebanon is that Hezbollah is deeply rooted in the state system," and argued, "Hezbollah receives full financial support and control from Iran."
He added, "We view the Lebanon-Israel talks and the Iran end-of-war talks as separate issues, but Iran is trying to bundle them into one," criticizing Iran for obstructing peace efforts at the government level in both countries.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also signaled willingness to negotiate with Israel. Foreign media reported that he said, "Negotiations are the most desirable and least expensive option for the Lebanese people."
However, despite President Trump's request to halt fighting, Israel and Hezbollah traded attacks that day as well.
President Trump said on social media the previous day that he had separately contacted both Israel and Hezbollah to request a halt to the clashes, and that he hoped the sides would reach a permanent peace agreement.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a cease-fire in April with U.S. mediation, but Hezbollah was not included as a party to the cease-fire. Since then, armed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have continued, remaining a destabilizing factor in the Middle East.