For nearly nine hours on Friday, Lebanese and Israeli military delegations met at the Pentagon in the presence of U.S. officials. Not only did the talks fail to produce any breakthrough, but they also underscored the depth of the divide between the two sides. Undoubtedly, no one expected a solution to emerge from this first direct contact. But U.S. officials had hoped the discussions would at least take place in a constructive atmosphere and help pave the way for more productive negotiations. That is not how events unfolded.Lebanon demanded a complete cease-fire. The Israelis, for their part, sought to establish operational coordination with the Lebanese Army aimed at disarming Hezbollah and eliminating its presence in southern Lebanon. As for the Americans, they could take some satisfaction from the fact that the meeting took place at...
For nearly nine hours on Friday, Lebanese and Israeli military delegations met at the Pentagon in the presence of U.S. officials. Not only did the talks fail to produce any breakthrough, but they also underscored the depth of the divide between the two sides. Undoubtedly, no one expected a solution to emerge from this first direct contact. But U.S. officials had hoped the discussions would at least take place in a constructive atmosphere and help pave the way for more productive negotiations. That is not how events unfolded.Lebanon demanded a complete cease-fire. The Israelis, for their part, sought to establish operational coordination with the Lebanese Army aimed at disarming Hezbollah and eliminating its presence in southern Lebanon. As for the Americans, they could take some satisfaction from the fact that the meeting took place at...
