Israeli authorities believe that they will not be able to achieve disarmament of the Shiite movement Hezbollah during the upcoming talks with Lebanon in the United States, Al-Monitor reported, citing its sources.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that during the talks with Lebanon on April 14, the Jewish state will seek to disarm Hezbollah not only in the southern border areas, but also throughout the country. However, sources in the Israeli Foreign Ministry noted that achieving this through diplomatic dialogue is practically impossible.
According to Al-Monitor, the Israeli negotiating team will be considered successful if, with the mediation of the United States, it manages to weaken Hezbollah, stop shelling of Israeli territory and strengthen the Lebanese armed forces. According to the Israeli side, the Lebanese army is not yet strong enough to disarm Hezbollah. Support from the United States and other Western countries would strengthen the position of the Lebanese armed forces.
The portal notes that the head of the Israeli negotiating team, the country's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, has no experience in serious diplomatic negotiations. If some progress is made during the first phase of the dialogue, Netanyahu may send former Minister of Strategic Planning Ron Dermer, who resigned last November, to the next round of negotiations.