Israeli foreign minister claims ‘no major disputes’ with Lebanon ahead of 2nd round of talks

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed Wednesday there are “no major disputes” between Israel and Lebanon ahead of a second round of talks in Washington on Thursday, Israeli media reported.

“We have no major disputes. There are a few minor disagreements regarding the border route that can be resolved,” Saar told members of the diplomatic corps at an event in Jerusalem, as cited by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

Saar described Lebanon as “a failed state, effectively controlled by Iran through Hezbollah.”

He claimed that Hezbollah represents the main “obstacle to peace and normalization” between Tel Aviv and Beirut.

“Hezbollah is a common enemy of Israel and Lebanon,” he said, calling on the Lebanese government to “cooperate against the terror state that Hezbollah has established on your territory.”

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met in Washington on April 14, their first meeting in 43 years, and agreed to begin direct peace negotiations.

According to Israeli Channel 15, a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Thursday in Washington.

Since March 2, Israel has carried out an offensive in Lebanon that has killed around 2,300 people, wounded more than 7,500, and displaced over 1 million, according to official figures.

A 10-day ceasefire was announced in Lebanon by US President Donald Trump on Thursday.