A direct phone call between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would undoubtedly be a historic moment in the modern Middle East, especially amid ongoing conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon itself, writes CNN.
Years of conflict, which included Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000, mean that the two sides have no diplomatic ties.
But the question is whether this call will yield real results, as the US pushes for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and potentially a broader peace deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun are expected to speak on Thursday, although the timing of the call remains unclear. Lebanon's presidency has not yet commented.
The war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is still an active conflict – Israel is carrying out deadly attacks while the Iranian proxy launches missiles and drones.
But President Donald Trump is pushing for a ceasefire, recently pressuring Israel to scale back attacks in Lebanon. Israel, which has long been skeptical of the Lebanese government's willingness or ability to confront Hezbollah, has set a high bar for a deal, including Hezbollah's disarmament.
The US hosted direct talks between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday, and Israel's security cabinet discussed a ceasefire on Wednesday evening. Trump is aiming for a broader deal with Iran, and Tehran is demanding a halt to fighting in Lebanon as part of the deal.
Trump first announced the phone call between Netanyahu and Aoun on social media, saying it could provide “some breathing space” between Israel and Lebanon. He also said it had been “about 34 years” since the two leaders had spoken, although it was not clear which contact or conversation he was referring to.
In 1982, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin met with Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel. Two weeks later, Gemayel was assassinated.
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