According to a report by Al-Jazeera on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has said that the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah remains the central obstacle between Israel and Lebanon, amid renewed diplomatic activity involving both countries.
Speaking ahead of scheduled talks in Washington, DC, Sa’ar stated that Israel’s primary interest is to pursue “peace and normalisation” with Lebanon, arguing that there are no fundamental territorial or bilateral disputes between the two neighbours apart from security concerns linked to Hezbollah.
“Israel and Lebanon don’t have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah,” Sa’ar said during a press briefing, adding that the group represents a shared challenge for both countries.
According to the Israeli foreign minister, the presence and influence of Hezbollah complicate not only Israel’s security calculations but also Lebanon’s sovereignty and internal stability. He argued that the “same problem” affects both states, framing Hezbollah as a destabilising force that prevents progress toward lasting diplomatic engagement.
Sa’ar’s remarks come as officials from Israel and Lebanon prepare for talks in Washington, DC, later today. The meeting is expected to be the first formal engagement of its kind since 1993 and will be facilitated by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Representatives from both countries’ embassies in the United States are expected to participate in the discussions.
The diplomatic initiative marks a rare moment of direct or semi-direct engagement between the two countries, which have technically remained in a state of conflict for decades. Analysts say the talks could signal an attempt to de-escalate tensions along the Israel–Lebanon border, where cross-border hostilities have intensified in recent months.
The conflict has taken a heavy humanitarian toll in Lebanon. According to reported figures cited in recent assessments, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since early March, while over one million residents have been displaced from their homes. The escalating violence has worsened an already fragile economic and political situation in Lebanon, where state institutions continue to face significant governance and financial challenges.
Israel, for its part, has maintained that its military operations are aimed at countering security threats posed by Hezbollah, which it accuses of launching attacks across the northern border. Lebanese authorities, meanwhile, have repeatedly condemned Israeli strikes and warned of further regional destabilisation…..See More
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