Israel wants 'to normalize relations with Lebanon' and reports ongoing negotiations

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Thursday during a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, that Israel seeks to "normalize its relations with Lebanon." He also noted that negotiations are underway, though this may seem "premature from the Lebanese point of view."

Regarding Lebanon, where Israel has carried out two strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut despite a fragile cease-fire agreed to four months ago, Saar said his country wants stability in Lebanon but will not allow the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement "to rearm."

"We wish to normalize our relations with Lebanon," Saar said at a press conference. "This might be premature from the Lebanese point of view," he added, while acknowledging that negotiations have begun "on certain issues."

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"We have a team negotiating on (...) border disputes," he said.

Saar reiterated that Israel seeks stability in Lebanon but will not allow Hezbollah "to rearm." He also accused Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas of cooperating and vowed that Israel "will not allow terrorist activities from there against Israel and our civilians."

Israel escalated its attacks last week after two unclaimed rocket launches from southern Lebanon targeted Israeli border towns. Since then, the southern suburbs of Beirut have been struck twice, raising fears that the cease-fire could collapse. On Saturday, Lebanese General Security announced the arrest of "several suspects" in connection with the recent rocket launches.

U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who is expected to visit Lebanon on Friday, has already called for open dialogue between Lebanon and Israel, stating that the Lebanese president supports diplomatic negotiations. A day earlier, Joseph Aoun had rejected the idea of normalization but said he was open to including "civilian experts" in working groups with Israel.