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“We are united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah,” Leiter said.
By United with Israel Staff
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, struck an optimistic tone Tuesday following rare direct talks with Lebanon in Washington, calling the meeting “a victory for sanity, for responsibility, and for peace.”
The two-hour meeting, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, brought together Israeli and Lebanese envoys for their first direct engagement in decades, as Washington seeks to advance a framework for a broader peace process.
Speaking after the talks, Leiter said the most significant takeaway was a shared understanding between the sides.
“We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation,” he said. “We are both united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah.”
Leiter described Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy that continues to threaten Israel with “constant barrages of missiles and terror attacks,” while also exerting control over Lebanon itself.
Looking ahead, he outlined a long-term vision of normalized relations between the two countries.
“We talked about a clear, delineated border between our countries,” he said, adding that one day Israelis and Lebanese could cross it “in business suits to conduct business or in bathing suits to go on vacation.”
At the same time, Leiter made clear that Israel’s core security demands remain unchanged.
“The security of our civilians is not up for negotiation,” he said, stressing that this position was understood by the Lebanese side.
He also praised the Lebanese government for agreeing to participate in the talks despite pressure from Hezbollah.
“The head of Hezbollah warned the Lebanese government not to take part, and they bravely said no,” Leiter said, calling the meeting “the beginning of a very strong and consistent effort” to confront the group.
Leiter argued that recent military pressure on Hezbollah and Iran has created a new strategic opening.
“They are weakened as they’ve never been,” he said. “Together, we will continue to remove the threat of this Iranian proxy.”
The talks come at a sensitive moment in the region, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and broader tensions involving Iran. Lebanon has pushed for a ceasefire, while Israel has insisted that any long-term arrangement must include the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Rubio, opening the meeting, described it as “a historic gathering” and said he hoped it would lay the groundwork for “a permanent, lasting peace,” while cautioning that “this is a process, not an event.”
Despite the differences, Leiter suggested the meeting marked a turning point.
“This is the first time in over three decades our countries are sitting together,” he said. “There is an opportunity here, and we should seize it.”
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