Before Washington negotiations.. Israeli ambassador reveals new initiative with Lebanon

As senior Israeli and Lebanese officials prepare to hold additional rounds of talks today and tomorrow with American mediation at the U.S. State Department, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter, revealed that his country is entering this round with a new initiative based on a gradual movement to clear successive areas of Hezbollah militia weapons.

He explained in an interview with the "Walla" website that Israel will propose a broader political track that includes the possibility of negotiating a comprehensive peace, but it is conditional on dismantling the party, noting that a ceasefire is being prepared.

Leiter stressed that Israel "will not agree under any circumstances to a ceasefire and allow Hezbollah to rearm."

He said that "despite the Lebanese government's statements about clearing southern Lebanon of Hezbollah's weapons, the reality on the ground is far from that."

He explained: "Since the start of the operation directly, we have found eight thousand rockets, shells, and weapons in southern Lebanon. Tunnels and weapons. There are Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon despite the statements."

Regarding the new initiative, the ambassador pointed out that Israel proposes a gradual movement on the ground. Saying: "We will identify a specific area together and plan with them how to clear it, then move to the next stage."

He added that Israel is also ready for a much broader political track. "We are ready for two tracks. The first is negotiating a comprehensive peace as if Hezbollah did not exist - borders, embassies, visas, tourism, and everything."

Leiter explained that "such an agreement could be reached within a few months. But it will be conditional on the success of the second track - dismantling Hezbollah."

The Lebanese issue is not separate from American efforts against Iran, referring to a conversation that took place between him and President Trump, his deputy, the Secretary of State, the Lebanese ambassador in Washington, and the U.S. ambassador to Israel in the Oval Office.

Leiter said: "The president asked me about the negotiations with Iran. I answered him that we must, on our part, remove the nuclear threat and the ballistic threat forever, and of course any agreement must include stopping support for proxies."

He added that in an unusual moment, Trump turned to the Lebanese ambassador and asked her to clarify her position. "She told him that if the agreement with Iran does not include a complete halt to support for Hezbollah, there will be no future for Lebanon."

Leiter said Trump immediately replied: "So you are basically on the same side. Both of you want to eliminate Hezbollah." "I answered him: That is the crux of the matter, Mr. President. We and the Lebanese are on the same side."