Trump's Truth Social post on Israel-Lebanon talks deepens division in Beirut: Analysis

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Thursday, writing that he is "trying to get a little breathing room" between the two countries, though he did not specify which leaders would be participating.
Mohamad Elmasry, political analyst and professor of media studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera that Israel has "every intention" of taking over territory south of the Litani River — 10 to 14 percent of Lebanese territory — as part of a "greater Israel project" that is mainstream in Israeli society, noting that even centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid said three weeks ago that Israel's borders are "based on the Bible."
Elmasry warned that Israel is asking the Lebanese state to disarm Hezbollah despite having worked with the US to ensure the Lebanese state remains weak, calling this an unrealistic demand.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reported from Beirut that a Lebanese official source said "we don't have any information" about the possibility of talks, reflecting deep division in Lebanon over direct engagement with Israel at a time when Israeli attacks continue.
Khodr noted that Israel has established five hilltop positions inside Lebanese territory since the 2024 ceasefire and has not withdrawn, with 90,000 people still unable to return to frontline villages.

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