'Israel' calls on Lebanon to cooperate in dismantling Hezbollah

• 'Israeli' Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated there are "no serious disagreements" between Israel and Lebanon except for Hezbollah.
• Sa'ar called on the Lebanese government to work together to remove the "Iranian occupation" ahead of direct talks in Washington.
• The negotiations, brokered by the US, mark the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two nations in decades.

'Israeli' Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has called on the Lebanese government to cooperate in disarming Hezbollah, identifying the group as the sole remaining obstacle to peace and normalization between the two countries.

Speaking at an Independence Day reception for the diplomatic corps in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Sa'ar struck a dual tone of diplomatic openness and firm security demands.

His remarks come as high-level delegations from 'Israel' and Lebanon prepare to meet in Washington on Thursday for a second round of direct negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent settlement.

Read more: Hezbollah official says Lebanon-'Israel' talks 'do not concern us'

"No serious disagreements"

Sa'ar emphasized that the territorial disputes between 'Israel' and Lebanon are manageable and do not constitute a reason for continued conflict.

“We don’t have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved,” Sa'ar said.

Instead, he framed the conflict as a struggle for Lebanese sovereignty against foreign influence. “The obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one: Hezbollah,” Sa'ar stated, adding that cooperation with 'Israel' could offer Lebanon “a future of sovereignty, independence, and freedom from the Iranian occupation.”

Direct talks in Washington

The upcoming meeting at the US State Department follows an initial gathering last week. These talks represent a historic shift, marking the first time in over 40 years that the two countries have engaged in direct diplomatic dialogue, moving beyond the indirect mediation typically used for maritime or border issues.

The negotiations are being facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and include the respective ambassadors to the United States.

While the Lebanese government has entered the talks to secure a withdrawal of 'Israeli' forces and the return of displaced citizens, 'Israel' remains focused on the total disarmament of Hezbollah and the enforcement of a secure northern border.

Read more: 'Israel' claims killing of Hezbollah commander in south Lebanon strike

Security on the ground

Despite the diplomatic momentum, the situation on the ground remains tense. The 'Israeli' military has established a buffer zone extending approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) into southern Lebanon.

'Israeli' officials stated this zone is necessary to eliminate the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles targeting northern 'Israeli' communities.

The 10-day ceasefire currently in place has faced several challenges, with both the IDF and Hezbollah reporting violations in recent days.

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated that 'Israel' is entering these talks from a "position of strength," reinforcing the government’s insistence that any final agreement must include the permanent removal of Hezbollah's military infrastructure from the border region.