"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Acting Director of the National Security Council to send a representative on his behalf to a meeting with government-economic elements in Lebanon," Netanyahu's office said on X. "This is an initial attempt to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon."

The representative will be Dr. Uri Resnick, signaling the start of civilian negotiations with Lebanon that include civilian – not only military – representatives on both sides, unlike in the past. Earlier on Wednesday, the Lebanese Presidential Office announced the appointment of former Ambassador Simon Karam, an attorney, as the head of the Lebanese delegation to the meetings of "the mechanism" (supervision committee that governs the implementation of the 2024 ceasefire). That representative will participate in a committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Naqoura, on the border. This is the first time a Lebanese civilian representative has been added to the committee.

"Israel must give the government of Lebanon an opportunity" Former President Biden's envoy, Amos Hochstein, addressed the situation in Lebanon at the Israel Hayom summit in New York on Tuesday. He said the ceasefire achieved about a year ago between Israel and Hezbollah was not a result of the organization's goodwill, but instead "a demonstration of military weakness." He revealed that parallel to the ceasefire, efforts began to establish a new presidency in Lebanon – which he views as the most pro-Western in years – to create a stable foundation for a long-term process of disarming Hezbollah.

A year later, Hochstein stated, the picture is much murkier. The government of Lebanon has failed to fulfill its part, and the organization has not been weakened enough to allow for genuine progress. "Hezbollah must disarm, and the government of Lebanon must fulfill what it committed to," he said. However, he emphasized that Israel must allow the Lebanese government a genuine opportunity to act before considering a military solution: "Returning to war will not achieve this – unless Israel plans a full occupation, which nobody wants."

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"It's very easy to say where these war start and how we should do it," he said, warning against Israel renewing the campaign in Lebanon to force Hezbollah to disarm. Pressed by the interviewer that this was also the message before the Lebanon operation by Israel in late 2024, he said," Let's be fair. we wanted to get to a ceasefire before the land invasion because that is what the Israeli government wanted and that is what we wanted as a result. What we wanted publicly in Lebanon at the time that 'we are not going to stop this war until Hamas stops its war, it meant that Hamas is going to decide the future of Lebanon...and we said at some point Israel is going to say enough is enough." But he cautioned, "disarming will not happen by Israel.. you can't live in a state of war, the Lebanese have to do it."

Video: Amos Hochstein during the Israel Hayom Summit

He said that the ceasefire Hezbollah was not the result of the terror group's goodwill, but "a demonstration of military weakness." He revealed that alongside the ceasefire, efforts began to install a new presidency in Lebanon, which he described as "the most pro-Western the country has had for years – to create a stable basis for the move of disarming Hezbollah."

Yet a year later, the reality is grim. The Lebanese government has not fulfilled its part, and Hezbollah has not been weakened enough to voluntarily relinquish its power. Hochstein stated this explicitly. "Hezbollah must disarm, and the Lebanese government must fulfill what it committed to." However, he emphasized that Israel must give the Lebanese government a genuine opportunity to lead the move before opting for a military solution. "Returning to war will not achieve this, unless Israel plans a full occupation, which no one wants."

At the start of his remarks, he recalled the initial moments of anxiety for the hostage families when speaking with the US president. "I was there when Biden refused to leave the call – that is a moment that will stay with me all my life," he said.

When asked if this followed the same logic that previously led him to oppose military action against Hezbollah, Hochstein clarified the distinction. The difference, he argued, is that a previous campaign weakened Hezbollah but did not dismantle it. He maintained that military force alone would not solve the strategic problem – necessitating a multi-stage American-Lebanese plan to generate real change on the ground: evacuating the south (of Lebanon), long-range missiles have to be disbanded, and implementing actionable steps on clear schedules. Regarding how long Israel should remain patient, he refused to set a deadline but emphasized that the US must lead in creating a practical path, rather than merely issuing declarations.

The final part of the interview addressed a pressing question: Does the Democratic Party still support Israel? Hochstein rejected the gloomy forecasts. "There is still strong support, both in Israel and among American Jewry. Not all Democrats are Mamdani," he said. He admitted that antisemitism is rising on both the left and the right but warned against panic. "The US is still the safest place for Jews in the world – and I believe it will remain so." Hochstein concluded with cautious optimism, noting that while the challenges are immense – in Lebanon, in Israel, and within US Jewry – there is no room for despair. "History has proven that it is possible to cope with these waves. We need to fight – and not give up."

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