Lebanon, Israel to resume ceasefire talks on December 19

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed on Thursday that civilian-led negotiations with Israel concerning the implementation of a ceasefire agreement will resume on December 19. The announcement came after delegations from both sides held a preliminary meeting on Wednesday in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura as part of a ceasefire monitoring committee.

Initial Meeting and Leadership

The Lebanese delegation was headed by former ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam, while the Israeli side was led by Uri Resnick, a senior director for foreign policy at Israel's National Security Council. President Aoun, speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace, characterized the first session as a necessary step. "It was self-evident that the first session would not be highly productive, but it paved the way for upcoming sessions," he stated, adding that "the language of negotiation should prevail over the language of war."

Background of the Conflict and Ceasefire

Aoun noted that Karam, "a respected civilian figure," was appointed as head of the Lebanese delegation following consultations with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The talks aim to solidify a ceasefire that ended over a year of intense cross-border hostilities linked to the war in Gaza, a conflict that resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and 17,000 injuries. However, violence has persisted; Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports at least 335 killed and 973 wounded in 1,038 Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect in November 2024.

Outstanding Issues and Israeli Withdrawal

A major point of contention remains the Israeli military's continued presence in southern Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw fully by January of this year. Instead, it has only conducted a partial pullback and maintains forces at five border outposts, a situation that is likely to be a central topic in the upcoming December 19 negotiations.