Israel and Lebanon are advancing towards formal negotiations aimed at ending hostilities, with discussions set to take place in Washington. The talks represent a significant diplomatic development after months of cross-border conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. A deal, if reached, could reshape security arrangements along the two countries' shared border and provide a framework for longer-term stability in the region.
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Monday, 13 April 2026
Israel and Lebanon prepare for Washington ceasefire talks[Updated]
Monday, 13 April 2026 · 1 min read
Updates
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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem publicly urged the Lebanese government to cancel Tuesday's planned Washington talks, calling direct negotiations with Israel futile while vowing to continue confronting Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Senior Hezbollah political council official Wafiq Safa went further, telling international media that the group is "not bound" by any agreement reached and has no interest in the outcome of the negotiations. The discord has exposed a fundamental tension for Beirut: Israel has stated it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Washington, while Lebanon says it intends to push for one, leaving the Lebanese government to navigate talks that its most powerful armed faction has publicly disowned.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has weighed in on the broader regional crisis, warning after a Brussels meeting that a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz — combined with ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon — poses a serious threat to regional stability. The EU remarks reflect growing international concern that the Lebanon-Israel conflict is becoming entangled with the wider Iran crisis, which is currently under a precarious pause following US-Israeli bombardment. New polling by Hebrew University of Jerusalem meanwhile shows deep war-weariness inside Israel, with a third of respondents describing their current emotional state as "despair" and a large majority saying they believe neither Iran nor Hezbollah has been severely weakened by recent strikes.
Sources
Al Jazeera English — EU: No peace possible while “Lebanon is in flames” ↗Al Jazeera English — Hezbollah rejects Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel ↗BBC World — Israelis war-weary but most oppose Iran ceasefire, poll suggests ↗Folha de S.Paulo — Hezbollah rejeita negociação do governo do Líbano com Israel ↗France24 — Lebanon will need '1 billion dollars just to keep humanitarian situation afloat', minister says ↗France24 — Prime Minister Netanyahu, in south Lebanon, says threat of invasion removed ↗France24 — War in the Mideast: Israel, Lebanon gear up for talks ↗
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