Former Trump Envoy Details Efforts to Foster Israeli-Lebanese Normalization

Former Trump administration senior advisor for Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, continues to advocate for normalization between Israel and Lebanon even after leaving her official post. In an interview, Ortagus discussed her efforts during her tenure, including direct talks between Israelis and Lebanese, which she believes could form the basis for a broader process between the two nations.

Ortagus highlighted that these direct talks originated not in Israel or America, but within Lebanon itself, driven by Lebanese individuals enthusiastic about peace and normalization. She attributed this shift partly to the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, which she stated "created a new opportunity in relations between Israel and Lebanon." Ortagus observed a significant lack of understanding between Israelis and Lebanese, despite their geographical proximity.

She recounted being tasked with the Lebanon portfolio after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory. Ortagus detailed her early realization that Nasrallah's death presented a "historic opportunity" to bridge the gap between Israel and Lebanon, countries that had lacked significant direct contact since the 1980s. She emphasized that while confronting Hezbollah and disarming it remains a central objective, engaging directly with the Lebanese public is also crucial.

Ortagus described her role in facilitating bi-weekly direct meetings between Israeli and Lebanese representatives, likening herself to a "nagging teacher" ensuring participation. While acknowledging that peace has not yet been achieved, she believes these discussions have broken the stigma surrounding direct Israeli-Lebanese dialogue. She also criticized Israel's past approach as overly tactical, focusing solely on immediate security threats rather than broader engagement.

Ortagus suggested Israel missed an opportunity by not engaging earlier with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, whose post-inauguration speech indicated openness to improving relations. She urged Israel to focus on Lebanese society beyond just Hezbollah, seeing a "real opportunity" with Lebanon. She noted growing public interest in direct connections, evidenced by discussions on social media about Israelis visiting Beirut and Lebanese people visiting Tel Aviv.

During the interview, Ortagus also addressed her Jewish identity, explaining her daily wearing of Jewish symbols, including a Star of David ring during meetings with Lebanese officials, as a personal statement of faith and a commitment to protecting her Jewish daughter. She stated her intention to live and die as a proud Jew. She concluded by mentioning a final conversation with Senator Lindsey Graham about peace prospects between Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, recalling his optimism.

Ortagus continues her work with her Lebanese partner, Anton Sahnawi, to strengthen Israeli-Lebanese ties, acknowledging the long road ahead but emphasizing the transformative impact of direct dialogue.