A day after direct and historic peace talks began between Israel and Lebanon, even as Israeli forces battle Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the terrorist group continues firing toward Israeli troops and Israeli territory, the reaction in Lebanon remained deeply divided.
“Authority of shame kneels in Washington,” read the front-page headline of Al-Akhbar, a newspaper affiliated with Hezbollah. Nidaa Al-Watan, which opposes the Shiite terrorist group, declared: “Taboo ... and broken.”
U.S. officials said Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold another meeting after Tuesday’s talks between the two countries’ ambassadors to the United States were described as positive. At the same time, direct talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the war are also expected to continue.
Nidaa Al-Watan said the talks marked “the beginning of the era of negotiations,” although for now it remains unclear whether the talks will end in an agreement — and whether Lebanon’s government would have any way to enforce such a deal on Hezbollah.
An-Nahar, a Lebanese newspaper not affiliated with Hezbollah, ran the front-page headline: “Lebanon-Israel, framework for peace negotiations.” Ad-Diyar, which is aligned with Hezbollah’s axis, asked on its front page: “What comes after the photo and the joint statement?” Al-Joumhouria wrote: “Historic meeting between Lebanon and Israel. The joint negotiating statement: striving for permanent peace.”
For many Lebanese, the talks also carry symbolic significance.
Saleh Machnouk, a research fellow at the Middle East Institute and a lecturer at a university in Lebanon, told CNN the talks were “a glimmer of hope” for the Lebanese people after decades of conflict. He said the interests of the Lebanese people had been “held hostage by Hezbollah” and that by taking part in the talks, Lebanon was “reclaiming its diplomatic sovereignty.”
According to Machnouk, “It is not only important that this war ends. What is even more important is that it be the last war between Lebanon and Israel. That is the most essential thing in the consciousness of the Lebanese people — that for 57 years we have served as a chess piece and as hostages in other people’s wars, and that must end today.”
At least 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the second Iran war, which Hezbollah joined on its second day.
“Lebanon needs a permanent ceasefire,” Machnouk said, adding that there must also be a security agreement with Israel to ensure there are no further rounds of fighting in the future. He said Lebanon’s government also needs to “establish its military and security sovereignty” with the help of the international community.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to launch rockets toward communities in northern Israel as Israeli troops fight the group in southern Lebanon. Israel, notably, has reduced the intensity of its airstrikes in Lebanon following the negotiations.
In northern Israel, residents responded with skepticism and called in any case for the fighting to continue until the talks produce results.