Rubio to participate in Israel–Lebanon negotiations in Washington

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take part in direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon scheduled for April 14, a State Department representative said.

The talks will be held at the US State Department and will include a US delegation featuring Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and State Department adviser Michael Needham, CNN reports.

The Israeli and Lebanese delegations will be led by ambassadors Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh, respectively.

“This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel’s northern border and to support the Government of Lebanon’s determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory and political life,” the State Department spokesperson said.

He noted that Israel was at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, so there was no reason the two neighbours should not be talking.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov