Amal Chmouny reports for Nidaa Al-Watan
April 20, 2026 -❝At the very heart of these efforts lies the "Memorandum of Understanding," issued with the consent of both Lebanon and Israel, and under the auspices of Washington. According to former U.S. Ambassador Ed Gabriel, such documents are the product of an arduous process of back-and-forth negotiation; as he notes: "Every single word is subjected to rigorous scrutiny and examination." The memorandum affirmed that Israel and Lebanon "are not in a state of war." It also called for direct negotiations facilitated by the United States, while holding out the possibility of achieving a "lasting peace." Furthermore, it clearly articulated the nature of the underlying quid pro quo: Israel would halt its offensive operations, while Lebanon would pledge to take "concrete and meaningful steps" to rein in Hezbollah and restore state control over the southern regions.❞ (Article was published in Arabic)