‘Overblown’ reports on Israel-Lebanon normalization risk hindering border talks before they begin: official

FIRST ON FOX: Reports that surfaced connected Wednesday suggesting Israel and Lebanon were pursing "normalization" ties person been "overblown" and hazard hurting existent hard-fought discussions, a U.S. authoritative acquainted with the talks told Fox News Digital.

Israeli reports, citing an anonymous elder Israeli official, claimed that renewed talks with Lebanon were aimed astatine reaching a modular diplomatic narration betwixt the 2 nations, conscionable months aft a ceasefire statement was reached pursuing Jerusalem’s violative against Hezbollah. 

But the U.S. official, who besides requested to stay anonymous owed to the delicate quality of the Israel-Lebanon talks, said borderline information is the main precedence astatine this moment.

Supporters transportation pictures of Hezbollah commandant Ibrahim Akil, who was killed successful an airstrike, during his ceremonial procession successful Beirut, Lebanon connected Sunday, Sept. 22. (AP/Bilal Hussein)

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The "current absorption is ridding Lebanon of Hezbollah and corrupt officials," the U.S. authoritative emphasized.

"Normalized" ties betwixt Israel and different nations successful the Middle East were a cornerstone of the archetypal Trump administration, which looked to bring information to Israel by establishing diplomatic ties betwixt Jerusalem and its Arab neighbors. 

But relations successful the Middle East person drastically shifted since 2021, erstwhile Trump near office.

Not lone is Israel staring down the glaring contented of Hamas – which inactive holds 59 hostages, 58 of whom were taken by the violent radical during the Oct. 7, 2023, violent attacks – but the "day after" program for the Gaza Strip remains unclear. 

Destroyed buildings successful the bluish Gaza Strip connected Feb. 11, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images)

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As negotiations betwixt the U.S., Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Hamas continue, the menace posed by different Iran-backed violent networks remains – peculiarly erstwhile it comes to the Houthis successful Yemen and Hezbollah successful Lebanon. 

The Biden administration, alongside France, helped broker a 60-day ceasefire successful precocious November betwixt Israel, Hezbollah and Lebanon that intended to extremity the hostilities by dismantling the violent enactment successful confederate Lebanon coupled with the withdrawal of Israeli forces – neither were ever afloat realized.

Despite the extremity of the ceasefire successful precocious January, the information concern successful confederate Lebanon has remained comparatively stable, though it continues to beryllium a precarious situation. 

Working groups that volition encompass U.S., Israeli and Lebanese officials, are being established to renew talks connected unresolved issues relating to captive releases, borderline disputes and the beingness of IDF troops successful confederate Lebanon – which presently stay successful a determination to safeguard Israelis surviving successful the country's north.

The confederate Lebanese municipality of Kfarkela arsenic seen from the borderline of Israel, connected Feb. 18, 2025. (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Talks betwixt officials from Washington, Jerusalem and Beirut are not expected to statesman until April and volition absorption connected removing the menace Hezbollah poses to Israel and determination stability.

The U.S. authoritative acquainted with the talks told Fox News Digital that immoderate proposition of establishing ceremonial diplomatic ties, similar those forged with the UAE and Bahrain, were "premature."

Fox News Digital could not scope Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bureau for comment.