Trump Announced A Conversation Between The Leaders Of Lebanon And Israel
- 16.04.2026, 16:58
There have been no such negotiations for more than 40 years.
US President Donald Trump has announced on social media a conversation between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon - without specifying who they are talking about or what format it might take. Israel says the country's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will talk to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Beirut is not yet aware of such plans, WBC reports.
"I'm trying to give Israel and Lebanon a break. Their leaders haven't spoken to each other in a long time, 34 years. It's going to happen tomorrow. Great!" - US President Donald Trump wrote on his TruthSocial website on Wednesday, shortly before midnight in Washington.
Trump did not specify exactly who, where or in what format the conversation would take place. Earlier this week, the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in a long time were held in Washington. The countries were represented at them by their ambassadors to the US.
"There have not been talks like this [between Israel and Lebanon] in over 40 years. They are taking place now because we are very strong and countries are coming to us - not just Lebanon," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of the ambassadors' meeting in Washington.
Israeli Security Cabinet member and Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel told Israel Defense Forces Radio's Galei Tzahal that Netanyahu would talk to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Reuters reported. Lebanese officials, however, told the agency they were not aware of such plans.
"The ceasefire requested by Lebanon from Israel is a natural starting point for direct talks between the countries," Aoun said on Thursday, without mentioning a possible conversation with Netanyahu.
Aoun also called U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday (he attended a meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington). Lebanese publication LCBI quoted sources as saying that during the conversation, Aoun told Rubio that he would not talk to Netanyahu. The two sides did not officially talk about it.