Lebanon, Israel appoint civilian members to ceasefire mechanism amid US push

Lebanon and Israel have appointed civilian representatives to the body overseeing the ceasefire reached last year, a step taken after sustained pressure from Washington.

The inclusion of civilian members marks a significant shift that could broaden negotiations to encompass political and economic issues between the two countries, topics long considered off-limits before the collapse of the Assad regime and the assassination of Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

US envoy Morgan Ortagus chaired a meeting of the so-called Pentalateral on Wednesday in southern Lebanon, the latest iteration of the mechanism responsible for monitoring the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire. This gathering was the first to include the newly named civilian appointees, underscoring what US officials view as a gradual but meaningful expansion of the group’s mandate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he “instructed the Acting Director of the National Security Council to send a representative on his behalf to a meeting with government-economic elements in Lebanon.”

“This is an initial attempt to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon,” the statement said.

Later in the day, Netanyahu’s office characterized the meeting as taking place “in a good atmosphere.”

The statement added that it was agreed that ideas would be formulated to advance possible economic cooperation between the two countries. “Israel clarified that the disarmament of Hezbollah is obligatory, regardless of the advancement of economic cooperation,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Lebanon’s military representatives have avoided any direct contact with Israel’s delegation.

The appointment of a civilian comes after Lebanon declared itself ready for negotiations with Israel.

At the same time, Israel has been intensifying its strikes in Lebanon which the Israeli military mostly says target militant group Hezbollah, despite the ceasefire agreed in November 2024.

“President Joseph Aoun has decided to appoint former ambassador Simon Karam to lead the Lebanese delegation,” presidency spokeswoman Najat Charafeddine said.

The decision followed a US request and “after being informed that Israel agreed to include a non-military member in its delegation,” she added.

Karam, a former Lebanese envoy to Washington, was a staunch critic of the Assad regime during its years of dominance in Lebanon. He was also a member of the Qornet Chehwan gathering, a coalition of anti-Syrian political figures that emerged in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon on several occasions and relations remain extremely sensitive between the two countries.

The most recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has upended Lebanese politics by significantly weakening the militant group and its grip on power.

The United States is also pressuring Lebanon’s government to rapidly disarm Hezbollah and has pushed for direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

The next meeting of the oversight body, which also includes US, French and UN representatives, is scheduled for Thursday, Charafeddine said.