Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that he is sending a representative to meet with Lebanese political and economic officials — a “first attempt to establish a foundation for relations and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.”

According to a statement from his office, Netanyahu has tasked the acting director of Israel’s National Security Council with dispatching a representative “to a meeting with government and economic officials in Lebanon.”
The announcement did not specify when the meeting is expected to take place.

The move follows a visit to Jerusalem by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus and comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

Accusing the Hezbollah movement of violating the ceasefire that ended the November 27, 2024 conflict between Israel and the Iran-aligned group, the Israeli military has intensified strikes in southern Lebanon over the past week, targeting what it says are Hezbollah members or infrastructure.

For several weeks, Israeli media have been filled with reports suggesting a possible upcoming Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Lebanon announced today that a civilian — rather than a military officer — will now lead its delegation to the mechanism overseeing the ceasefire with Israel. The change was made at the request of the United States, which oversees the mechanism.

Until now, Lebanon had been represented by military officers who avoided direct contact with the Israeli side.

The appointment of a civilian comes after Lebanon declared it is ready to enter negotiations with Israel, despite the two countries being technically in a state of war.

“President Joseph Aoun has decided to appoint former ambassador Simon Karam as head of the Lebanese delegation in the mechanism’s meetings,” presidential spokesperson Najat Sarafeddine said in a statement.

She explained that the decision was taken “at the request of the United States (…) and after Lebanon was informed that Israel agrees to add a civilian to its own delegation.”

In November, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said that direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel could be key to reducing tensions, especially as Israel has escalated its strikes in recent weeks despite the ceasefire.

Karam is expected to lead the Lebanese delegation in a meeting of the mechanism today, the spokesperson added.

The mechanism — which includes Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France, and the United Nations — holds its meetings at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, a town in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.