The U.S. is hosting direct talks between Israel and Lebanon to negotiate a ceasefire today. Hezbollah, which Israel says it is targeting, is not participating in the talks.
Israel’s demand that Hezbollah be disarmed is “anything but reasonable,” because the Lebanese government has no capacity to enforce that demand, says Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator and now president of @USMEP.
"Israel knows that what it is doing here is it is trying to put something that sounds reasonable on the table, but with the intention of embarrassing and humiliating the Lebanese government." The foregone failed conclusion of the talks could "throw Lebanon back into a civil war," which is an outcome that some Israeli leaders have "openly" considered.
"This is an exercise in trying to pursue a zero sum agenda which has nothing in it for the Lebanese side."
Watch our full interview with Levy here: www.democracynow.org/2026/4/15/israel_leba...