Lebanese Ambassador to US Calls Israeli Counterpart After Son's Attack Injury

Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, Randa Awad, contacted Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, following the severe injury of Leiter's son in a car-ramming attack last week. The report, aired Sunday by Kan News, cited Western diplomatic sources who spoke with a Lebanese journalist identified with Hezbollah.

According to the report, Ambassador Awad condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Ambassador Leiter, whose son, Neria, was critically injured on Route 443. The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not deny the report, stating they do not comment on such matters.

Ambassador Awad and Ambassador Leiter have recently met in Washington, reportedly in an effort to restart complex negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, and appear to be working in close cooperation. Given this context and the Israeli Embassy's non-denial, the call is considered highly likely to have occurred.

The journalist who reported the call, and is aligned with Hezbollah, is reportedly attempting to frame the interaction as the Lebanese ambassador groveling to Israel, rather than a humanitarian gesture. Meanwhile, Ambassador Leiter provided an update on his son Neria's condition, noting "some encouraging signs."