Israel Envoy Highlights Progress After Lebanon Talks

Yechiel Leiter spoke to reporters following rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, calling the meeting a significant diplomatic step after more than three decades without face-to-face engagement between the two countries.

The discussions took place at the U.S. Department of State and were hosted by Marco Rubio, alongside Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Leiter described the two-hour exchange as constructive and said both sides presented their governments’ positions in what he called an opportunity to move toward broader security arrangements and a potential future peace framework.

Leiter said the weakening of Hezbollah created conditions for renewed diplomacy and described the talks as the first step toward what he called a possible “harmonious relationship” similar to those established under the Abraham Accords.

He also emphasized Israel’s position that continued cross-border missile fire from Hezbollah remains a central obstacle to stability along the northern border, while expressing optimism that the meeting could open a pathway toward longer-term normalization between the two countries.

Leiter credited leadership from Donald Trump and coordination with Benjamin Netanyahu as helping create conditions for the talks to take place.