Amal Chmouny reports for Nidaa Al-Watan
April 11, 2026 -❝According to American sources, President Berri, who has long been considered an obstacle to any direct diplomatic path with Israel, "abandoned the ceasefire clause" after the raids. His decision paved the way for President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to pursue what former Ambassador Ed Gabriel described as a “leap of strategic courage”. Gabriel told "Nida Al-Watan" that "since President Aoun called for direct negotiations, the Lebanese-American community, including the American Task Force on Lebanon, has made strenuous efforts to advance this matter," stressing in return that "the American ambassador in Beirut Michel Issa did a huge preliminary work, where he met with the US ambassador to Israel, and developed a formula that may be acceptable to both parties." Gabriel, who has always been a link between Washington and Beirut, describes a convergence in the circumstances: “Israel's realization that its war with Hezbollah will require more than just military actions, and Lebanon's conclusion that the continuation of Israeli strikes threatens the collapse of the state.” "They have now touched the usefulness of moving towards negotiation," he added. What makes these upcoming talks of unique importance is not just how they are held, but how they are held. Neither party claims initial concessions. This represents a radical break with decades of diplomatic norms in Lebanon's dealings with Israel. ❞ (Article was published in Arabic)