Issued on: 15/04/2026 - 11:59Modified: 15/04/2026 - 17:12

François Picard welcomes Farès Boueiz, former Lebanese minister of foreign affairs. The ongoing Israeli-Lebanese talks cannot be described as a "breakthrough", Boueiz argues, but rather as a technical prelude to meaningful negotiations. What we are witnessing, he suggests, is the exploratory stage of diplomacy. At the heart of the impasse lies a fundamental misalignment of objectives: Lebanon enters these discussions seeking an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, while Israel is pursuing what Boueiz describes as "full political peace and normalisation" of ties.

For Boueiz, there is a deeper contradiction at play. It is not coherent, he says, "to bring Lebanon to the negotiating table under fire". Engaging in peace talks while the country remains under relentless bombardment makes constructive dialogue virtually impossible. No state can realistically negotiate under such conditions, with large numbers of civilians facing displacement and daily incursions.

Compounding the challenge is the absence of an effective mediating force. Boueiz argues that the United States has drifted from its traditional role as an "honest broker", instead positioning itself as a messenger for Israel rather than a neutral facilitator. Without credible mediation, the prospects for meaningful progress remain dim.

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