View of the Rosh Hanikra rocks on the border between Israel and Lebanon, Oct. 27, 2022 (Credit: Jack Guez/AFP)
The idea of peace between Lebanon and Israel is resurfacing, now laid out as a tangible possibility and, for some, even a desirable one.At the Qatar Economic Forum, U.S. deputy envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus opened an unexpected window: "The IMF is not the only way. It's one option. I have a grand plan and vision, where Lebanon may not even need the IMF. If we can turn them into an investible nation, I can use all of you as an investor," she said, gesturing to those at the Forum, "And, let's not saddle the country with more debt."In Beirut, the statement was widely seen as a strong signal, if not a coded message. This followed another statement by Ortagus in which she urged Lebanon to “learn from [Syrian President Ahmad] al-Sharaa and how he collaborated with Saudi Arabia to engage with President Trump and our team to...
The idea of peace between Lebanon and Israel is resurfacing, now laid out as a tangible possibility and, for some, even a desirable one.At the Qatar Economic Forum, U.S. deputy envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus opened an unexpected window: "The IMF is not the only way. It's one option. I have a grand plan and vision, where Lebanon may not even need the IMF. If we can turn them into an investible nation, I can use all of you as an investor," she said, gesturing to those at the Forum, "And, let's not saddle the country with more debt."In Beirut, the statement was widely seen as a strong signal, if not a coded message. This followed another statement by Ortagus in which she urged Lebanon to “learn from [Syrian President Ahmad] al-Sharaa and how he collaborated with Saudi Arabia to engage with President Trump and our team to...
