The direct high-level talks between the two countries on Wednesday were the first in a very long time. The contacts come as a fragile ceasefire has been in place for a year in the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Israel carries out repeated attacks on targets said to be strongholds of the Hezbollah movement. The government in Beirut has criticized the attacks on several occasions, but neither side has chosen to officially break the ceasefire.
In the talks, Israel again emphasized that it is "crucial" that the Hezbollah movement disarm, regardless of how other contacts between the two countries develop.
“The meeting was held in a positive spirit, and agreements were made to support potential economic cooperation,” according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
But the characterization did not entirely align with the view of Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In connection with the meeting, Salam said that there was a long way to go before there was real peace between the two countries.
