From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Trump Lebanon envoy meets Netanyahu amid rising tensions with Hezbollah
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held a meeting with the White House Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, the Prime Minister’s Office tells The Times of Israel.
Ortagus, who along with US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack is US President Donald Trump’s point person, is expected to fly to Beirut after her stop in Israel.
She has also met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. According to Sa’ar, he told her that “the one violating Lebanese sovereignty is Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s disarmament is crucial for Lebanon’s future and Israel’s security.”
Glad to meet in Jerusalem with Counselor to U.S. Mission to the UN and Special Representative for Lebanon Morgan Ortagus.
We had a good discussion on the situation in Lebanon. I said that the one violating Lebanese sovereignty is Hezbollah. Hezbollah's disarmament is crucial… pic.twitter.com/MiU9DLenBt— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 2, 2025
Tensions in Lebanon have ratcheted up in recent weeks. The IDF has intensified its strikes against Hezbollah targets, which it accuses of violating the November 2024 ceasefire, including killing the group’s chief of staff in a rare strike in Beirut last week.
The Times of Israel Community.