The leaders of Israel and Lebanon are set to speak directly for the first time in over 30 years as President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire between the countries as part of broader efforts to end hostilities in the Middle East.
Trump anticipated the talks in a social media post on Wednesday, saying "trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon."
"It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow," he added.
Israel's Minister of Science and Technology Gila Gamliel said Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, adding that she hopes the talks will "hopefully ultimately lead to prosperity and flourishing" between the countries.
Lebanon's presidential office did not confirm the interaction will take place. "We have no information regarding the reported phone call between Netanyahu and President Aoun," the office said.
Israel's security cabinet is also considering a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon as a result of heavy pressure from the Trump administration, according to a report.
Israeli Channel 12 detailed that the U.S. believes that such a move could support negotiations between Israel and Lebanon and Washington and Tehran.
"Our assessment is that within a few days, we will have no choice but to fully cease fire in Lebanon," a source told the outlet. The ceasefire could last one week and fighting could resume if both parties don't reach a more secure deal in that timeframe.
The possibility of a ceasefire follows a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials in the U.S. on Tuesday, where both parties agreed on the need to "liberate" the latter country from Hezbollah.
Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, told press that negotiators "discovered today that we're on the same side of the equation, and that's the most positive thing we could have come away with."
Leiter went on to say that the talks, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were focused on laying out a "long term vision where there will be a clearly delineated border between our countries, and where the only reason we'll need to cross each other's territory will be in business suits to conduct business or in bathing suits to go on vacation."
The official also praised Lebanese officials for taking part on the talks despite Hezbollah's calls not to, and said they "expressed a strong will to this time disarm Hezbollah."
"The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah," Leiter added.
Hezbollah not only called on Lebanese officials to not attend the meeting, but a top official also said the group won't observe any agreement reached between the countries.
