Lebanon and Israel have held their first direct contact via a telephone call between their ambassadors in Washington, in a US-facilitated effort to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for formal negotiations, the Lebanese presidency said on Friday.
The call, which also included the US ambassador to Lebanon, was part of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and opening a path to talks between the two sides, according to the statement.
Lebanon and Israel agreed during the exchange to hold their first formal meeting on Tuesday, April 14, at the US State Department in Washington, with the United States acting as mediator.
The planned meeting is expected to focus on announcing a ceasefire and setting a timeline for broader negotiations, marking a rare moment of direct engagement between the two longtime adversaries.
