Prime Minister says Lebanon is nowhere near diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel

BEIRUT Lebanons Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, stated on Wednesday that his nation remains far from establishing diplomatic or economic relations with Israel, despite recent steps toward direct discussions intended to reduce regional tensions.

Speaking to a small group of reporters in Beirut, Salams remarks contrasted with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus announcement that Israel would send a representative to engage with Lebanese officials on diplomatic and economic matters. Netanyahu described the initiative as a preliminary effort to lay the groundwork for relations and economic cooperation between the neighboring countries.

Both Lebanon and Israel recently introduced civilian participants to a committee that had previously consisted solely of military personnel. This committee oversees the implementation of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire that ended the most recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, one year ago. The civilian members attended Wednesdays session of this mechanism.

Lebanon and Israel have no formal diplomatic relations and have technically been at war since 1948. The inclusion of civilians in talks is seen as a potential move toward the direct bilateral negotiations Washington has encouraged.

Nevertheless, Salam emphasized that Lebanon remains committed to the 2002 Arab peace initiative, which links normalization with Israel to the establishment of a Palestinian statea goal that Israels government continues to reject. Economic ties would naturally follow such normalization, so it is clear to anyone paying attention that we are nowhere near that stage, Salam said.

Author: Lucas Grant