Doubts Over Trump Claim Of Talks Between Israel And Lebanon

Donald Trump’s surprise claim that historic peace talks between Israel and Lebanon will soon be taking place is causing some bewilderment.

Ambassadors from the two warring countries held direct talks on Tuesday in Washington – their first in decades – and agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed-upon time and place.

But there was a lack of clarity about just when these next discussions might happen.

However, the US president wrote on TruthSocial overnight: “Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!”

He did not elaborate or offer any further detail on who might be present.

Officials in Beirut then told several media outlets they are unaware of any contact or meetings arranged with their Israeli counterparts.

AFP news agency reported an official source in Lebanon saying: “We are not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side, and we have not been informed of any through official channels.”

Al Jazeera reported another official source from Lebanon saying “there is no information” about a potential phone call between the two countries or their ambassadors in Washington.

Tehn a member of the Israeli security cabinet Galia Gamliel claimed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to speak to Lebanese president Joseph Aoun today.

She told Israeli Army radio that the conversation will take place “after so many years of a total disconnect in the dialogue between the two states, and this move will, hopefully, in the end, lead to prosperity.”

But a spokesperson for the Lebanese presidency told CNN they were not “aware of any call” between Netanyahu and Aoun.

The Israeli military also urged the general public in southern Lebanon to flee amid “ongoing” airstrikes against what Israeli claimed are Hezbollah targets early on Thursday morning.

Lebanon is understood to wants to a ceasefire agreement before any peace talks to address its current humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, Israel wants to ensure the Lebanese government is “no longer occupied by Hezbollah”.

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