Lebanon, Israel Hold First Call, Peace Talks To Be Held In Washington On April 14

Amid escalating tensions, Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States held first direct contact through a phone call ahead of peace talks scheduled for next week in Washington.

The Lebanese Presidency in its statement said that both countries agreed during the conversation to hold their first official meeting on April 14 at the US State Department in Washington, with the United States acting as mediator.

According to the statement, the call was held between Lebanese envoy Nada Hamadeh Maacoud, and Israeli ambassador, Yechiel Leiter, facilitated by the United States and also included the US ambassador to Lebanon.

Officials said the call is part of ongoing US-led mediation aimed at securing a ceasefire and paving the way for structured

negotiations.

صدر عن مكتب الإعلام في رئاسة الجمهورية البيان الاتي:

بناء على المبادرة التي اطلقها رئيس الجمهورية العماد جوزاف عون والتي ترتكز على العمل الدبلوماسي من خلال الإعلان عن وقف لإطلاق النار والذهاب إلى التفاوض المباشر مع إسرائيل ، وبعد الاتصالات الدولية والعربية التي اجراها الرئيس…

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) April 10, 2026

The planned diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of escalating violence. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed more than 300 people and wounded over 1,100 in a single day this week. Israel said it had killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, described as a relative and aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in an overnight strike in Beirut.

A senior official in the Lebanese President’s office has told the BBC that Lebanon will participate in direct negotiations with Israel next week only if there is a ceasefire in place beforehand.

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorised direct talks following what he said were “repeated requests from the Lebanese government”.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” his office wrote in a statement.

He also added that the negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between Israel and Lebanon.

A US State Department official said it would host a meeting next week in Washington “to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations” between the two countries.