Israel and Lebanon set to expand truce talks

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT - Israel and Lebanon will send new representatives to a military committee monitoring a truce between the countries, top officials from both said on Wednesday, in a move set to expand the scope of talks between the long-time foes.

If both Lebanese and Israeli civilian officials attend, it would be a step towards a months-long U.S. demand that the two countries expand talks beyond monitoring the 2024 ceasefire.

Beirut remains officially in a state of war with Israel, but Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has said in recent months that he is open to negotiations to pursue a more robust truce.

Israel said it will send a representative in a bid to establish a relationship and economic cooperation with Lebanon, while Beirut will send for the first time a civilian envoy for such talks.

The committee is set to meet later on Wednesday on the Blue Line, which serves as the frontier between Lebanon and Israel.

Aoun said he appointed Simon Karam, a former ambassador to the U.S., to head Lebanon's delegation.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed acting director of the National Security Council Gil Reich to send a representative on his behalf.

"This is an initial attempt to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024 that ended more than a year of fighting between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Since then, they have traded accusations over violations.

Israel has continued air strikes on what it says are Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its military capabilities in breach of the truce. Lebanon says Israel's bombardment and occupation of hilltop positions in south Lebanon are breaches.

Alexander Cornwell, Maya Gebeily, Maya Gebeily/Reuters