Yechiel Leiter: Israel's Far-Right US Envoy Leading Lebanon Peace Talks
Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, held the first-ever phone call between Israeli and Lebanese envoys over the weekend. Leiter is leading peace talks with Lebanon's ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, with negotiations expected to begin Tuesday.
Israel and Lebanon are starting direct peace talks for the first time, with Israel's US ambassador Yechiel Leiter leading negotiations. Leiter spoke by phone with Lebanon's US ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad over the weekend, breaking diplomatic tradition.
The talks are set to begin Tuesday and will focus on ending the conflict with Hezbollah. US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa will lead the American delegation mediating between the two sides.
Leiter has ties to far-right political groups and has used harsh language during the negotiation process, according to reports. His background could complicate the delicate peace talks.
Israel and Lebanon do not have formal diplomatic relations, making these direct ambassador-level talks unprecedented. The negotiations come as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated, threatening regional stability.
This breaks decades of tradition since Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic ties. The talks could end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has displaced thousands and threatens to spread violence across the region.
Direct negotiations begin Tuesday between the three ambassadors in Washington.
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