Lebanon and Israel Meeting Next Week in the United States

(Patria) - Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington held their first phone call on Friday, as momentum builds towards talks between the two countries, Al Arabiya reported.

Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad and her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter spoke by phone in the first contact, which also involved the US envoy to Beirut Michel Issa.

The call aimed to help set the stage and timeline for direct negotiations expected to begin next week.

Following the call, the Lebanese presidency announced that an agreement had been reached for the first meeting to be held next Tuesday at the State Department to discuss the announcement of a ceasefire and set a date for direct negotiations mediated by the United States.

Al Arabiya had previously reported that the two sides were expected to meet in person next week for a first round of talks, which are likely to be preliminary.

Issa is expected to be present throughout the negotiations with other senior State Department officials, including Michael Needham, senior advisor to Secretary of State Marc Rubio.