Israel sending official to attend meeting in Lebanon with government figures

As a senior White House official heads from Israel to Lebanon to head off a potential escalation in conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructs Gil Reich, acting head of the National Security Council, to send a representative to meet Lebanese economic officials there, according to Netanyahu’s office.

“This is an initial attempt to create a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon,” says the Prime Minister’s Office.

US envoy Morgan Ortagus is slated to arrive in Lebanon today to take part in a meeting of the “Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism” — made up of US, UNIFIL, Israeli, French and Lebanese officials — aimed at pushing forward with the ceasefire reached a year ago with Israel.

According to the MTV Lebanese news site, the Israeli official slated to take part in the talks is Uri Resnick of the National Security Council.

Lebanon announces that it will also appoint a civilian to lead its delegation to the body overseeing the ceasefire, following a request from the United States. Until now, Lebanon had insisted on keeping a military officer in the role.

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

“President Joseph Aoun has decided to appoint former ambassador Simon Karam to lead the Lebanese delegation,” presidency spokeswoman Najat Charafeddine says. The decision followed a US request and “after being informed that Israel agreed to include a non-military member in its delegation,” she adds.

The meeting comes as Israeli and US officials warn that the IDF could embark on a major operation if the Lebanese government does not make progress in disarming Hezbollah.

Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House later this month to discuss ongoing conflict in Lebanon, as well as Syria, Gaza, and beyond.