Delegation-level talks to begin, leaving Beirut with an impossible equation

The date has been set. On May 14 and 15, direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel will take place in Washington, now at the delegation level, following two preparatory meetings between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors on April 14 and 23 in the U.S. capital, amid a provisional cease-fire in effect since April 17.The announcement, confirmed by the U.S. State Department, follows President Joseph Aoun’s assessment that the timing was not right for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Beirut conveyed to the Americans that such a meeting at this stage could destabilize the internal situation and undermine the negotiation process. Lebanon has insisted that any such step be postponed until a full cease-fire is reached and a framework for a security agreement is established.The Lebanese delegation will be headed by...