Tripartite Conversation Between Israel, Lebanon, and the US Ahead of Negotiations: Will Tel Aviv Announce a Ceasefire?

SadaNews - A tripartite phone conversation is taking place on Friday evening between Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yair Lapid, Lebanese Ambassador there Nada Maouad, and US Ambassador in Beirut Michel Aoun, in preparation for potential direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon scheduled for next Tuesday in Washington, to discuss reaching an agreement for a ceasefire that includes the disarmament of Hezbollah.

A Lebanese source stated that the country's ambassador to Washington will request a ceasefire or truce as a goodwill gesture to initiate negotiations, according to reports from "Al Arabiya" television.

A diplomatic source mentioned that "Israel has agreed to cease its attacks in Beirut at the request of the Americans," noting that it has no significant military targets left in the capital, according to what was reported by "Haaretz".

According to Israeli Channel 12, US President Donald Trump is pressuring Israel to end the war on Lebanon. Meanwhile, American and Lebanese officials agree that a ceasefire from Tel Aviv should be "a goodwill gesture ahead of starting negotiations, so it is part of the process and not a result of any pressures from Iran, so that it does not count as an achievement for them but rather for the Lebanese government."

Israeli officials estimate that this step is in the right direction, believing it could lead to an agreement under Israeli conditions similar to what occurred in the November 2024 agreement, allowing it to act against any threat within Lebanese territory; according to Channel 12, which indicated that developments in the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities could occur in the next two to three days.

In light of Trump's pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed a change in the policy of attacks in Lebanon. Sources indicate that any attack in Beirut now requires a series of approvals different from those previously followed, possibly reaching Netanyahu's direct approval; according to reports from the Israeli Broadcasting Authority ("Kan 11").

It was reported from an Israeli source that there is no ceasefire, but there has been a significant reduction in attacks and restrictions in this regard imposed by the political level.

"CNN" reported, citing two American and Israeli sources, that Trump had a tense phone call with Netanyahu just before Israel announced negotiations with Lebanon.

These developments come on the heels of Netanyahu announcing that he has directed the initiation of "direct" negotiations with Lebanon "as soon as possible," while Israeli reports indicated that his close advisor Ron Dermer would coordinate the negotiations to be managed by Israel's Ambassador in Washington, aiming to "ease international pressure on Israel" to enable it to resume its war on Iran.

Meanwhile, negotiations between Iran and the US are set to begin on Saturday in the Pakistani capital Islamabad after a two-week truce was reached following the outbreak of the Israeli-American war on Iran on February 28 of this year.