Israel’s representative to the renewed talks with Lebanon warned Tuesday that the process was at risk of derailment, saying the fifth round of negotiations had become a “train wreck” because the core premise, removing Iran’s influence and dismantling Hezbollah, appeared to be slipping from the agenda.
“This is the fifth round of talks, and I have to say, we are in a train wreck,” Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said during the Washington meeting between Israeli and Lebanese representatives.
“Four rounds ago, we all boarded the same train. We sat in the same car and traveled toward the same destination, with the U.S. serving as the locomotive,” he said. “The train was heading in a very clear direction: full peace between the countries, Iran out and its malign influence out of Lebanon; the dismantling of Hezbollah; peace and security for Lebanon and Israel.”
Leiter said that track was now in danger.
“Today, that train is at risk of coming off the rails. I hope we can put it back on track,” he said. “The premise was that Iran is out, and that the central discussion is about Lebanon and Hezbollah, not about how much Iran can restrain Hezbollah. That is not Iran’s role. Its role is to get out of Lebanon.”
“The role of the Lebanese government is to exercise its sovereignty,” he added. “Sovereignty means Iran is no longer involved in malign activity or influence in Lebanon. We need clarity.”
Leiter also addressed U.S.-Iran negotiations, saying Israel hoped a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran would succeed but warning that it must not allow Iran to continue funding its regional proxies.
“Israel very much hopes the MOU will succeed,” he said. “We all support President Trump’s vision to ensure that Iran no longer has nuclear capabilities, ballistic missiles or the ability to funnel money to its proxies in order to threaten its neighbors and establish regional hegemony.”
“Israel is not in conflict with Lebanon. Therefore, deconfliction is not the issue. All that is required is coordination with Lebanon,” he said. “The only issue is Hezbollah. Hezbollah must be defeated and removed from the equation. Instead, there is a danger that Hezbollah has been given a shot in the arm. There is no doubt it feels strengthened and emboldened.”
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