For the first time, an Israeli diplomat and a Lebanese diplomatic figure, both of whom are not military personnel, will take part in Wednesday's meeting of the body overseeing the ceasefire in Naqoura, Lebanon.
Uri Resnick from the National Security Council (NSC) will head the Israeli delegation to the Naqoura talks. At the same time, Lebanon will send former ambassador to the United States, attorney Simon Karam, to lead the Lebanese delegation.
Including diplomats in the talks
The US special envoy for Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, and US Ambassador in Beirut, Michel Issa, pressured Lebanon and Israel to include civilian/diplomatic personnel alongside the military ones in the delegations.
"It's in your strategic interest", the two told the Israeli and Lebanese governments.
The goal is to meaningfully advance the talks and create at least the appearance of a step toward normalization.
The Prime Minister's Office later confirmed the move, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the deputy head of the NSC to send a representative to the talks in Lebanon.
"This is a first attempt to create a basis for economic relations and cooperation between Israel and Lebanon," the PMO stated.