Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, even if the United States requested it, as a second day of US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon commenced in Washington today. Katz stated that the Israeli military, the IDF, “must remain on the enemy’s side of the border and defend Israeli communities from within the territory itself,” asserting a continued military presence in Lebanese territory.
The talks, aimed at a comprehensive peace and security arrangement, involved an Israeli delegation led by Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and a Lebanese delegation headed by Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Maawad, alongside former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Simon Karam.
A central point of discussion was a pilot program for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to deploy to specific areas in southern Lebanon, allowing the IDF to withdraw. However, the primary disagreement centered on the starting location for this initiative. Lebanon, supported by the US, pushed for the program to begin in areas currently occupied by Israeli forces, while Israel preferred to start in parts of southern Lebanon where the IDF was not currently deployed.
Continued Military Occupation
An Israeli official stated, “We first need to see whether they can meet the objective and clear the area of Hezbollah’s presence. If that works, the model can also be implemented in areas where the IDF is currently stationed.” Defense Minister Katz further elaborated on Israel's “security doctrine,” stating that “security zones that included civilian populations became the site of roadside bombs and attacks against our soldiers” in the past. He affirmed, “We will not allow that to happen again. Soldiers inside, civilians outside. The infrastructure has been destroyed, the houses are damaged and dangerous. We are not withdrawing.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2026 conference in Tel Aviv, echoed this position, stating, “We will remain there.”
Stalled Negotiations and US Role
Despite the ongoing discussions, officials familiar with the negotiations reported no significant progress during the first day of talks yesterday. While the atmosphere was described as positive by some, an Axios report today indicated that the first day concluded with “no progress” and a sense that discussions resulted in “more regression than steps forward.” Before yesterday's talks, Israeli Ambassador Leiter warned of a “train wreck,” stating, “This is the fifth round of talks, and I must say, we are heading toward a train wreck... that train is in danger of derailing.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio identified the disputed buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon as “at the core of” the US-mediated negotiations. Rubio stated the aim was for the Lebanese government to “continue to be able to control and secure more and more of their own territory,” adding, “The more of that area the Lebanese armed forces is able to secure, the less of it is in Hezbollah’s control, and the less Israel will be in Lebanon.” US Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa reportedly acknowledged “some difficulties” on the first day of talks, expressing hope for resolution through further discussions.
Regional Dynamics and External Influence
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Iranian involvement, following a memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran last week, had complicated the negotiations. These sources suggested that both Israel and Lebanon have strong incentives to reach an understanding, with Lebanon aiming to demonstrate independence from Iran and Israel seeking to prevent Iranian achievements related to Lebanon. Ambassador Leiter also warned that Iran-funded Hezbollah might be given “a new lease on life” under the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding, potentially allowing Tehran to “funnel resources to the Lebanese terrorist group.” US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, as reported by Maariv, expressed his belief that Israel should not withdraw from Lebanon. Graham told the Shas-affiliated newspaper Haderech that the “chance of a real agreement between Israel and Lebanon is almost zero as long as Iran is negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah with the United States,” and vowed to take “a very tough line against any agreement that would be seen as limiting freedom of action with Hezbollah.”