Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an unusual meeting Tuesday evening at his office with Michel Issa, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, alongside Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The two American diplomats are leading mediation efforts between Israel and Lebanon.
The meeting is considered highly irregular given that Issa represents American interests in Lebanon, even as Israeli military operations against Hezbollah targets in that country continue.
Earlier Tuesday, a French diplomat revealed to the Saudi media outlet Al Hadath that France and Italy are advancing a joint peace initiative for Lebanon, running parallel to the U.S.-mediated direct talks between Lebanon and Israel. The European-led plan is being promoted through the United Nations Security Council in an effort to expedite its implementation.
According to the French official, the proposal was developed through Franco-Italian cooperation, with both countries advancing it through UN channels and holding discussions with Security Council member states to secure their support.
These diplomatic efforts are proceeding simultaneously with, though not necessarily coordinated with, the American initiative aimed at reaching an agreement between Lebanon and Israel through direct negotiations brokered by the White House. It remains unclear whether the European plan includes any provisions for dismantling Hezbollah, though sources close to the process indicate its primary objective is "the immediate preservation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
