Report: Qatar Could Mediate Between Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah

Israeli media reports say Qatar may soon play a larger role in northern diplomacy, alongside the already existing U.S.-mediated track between Israel and Lebanon. The direct Israel-Lebanon talks, which are being led by Washington, resumed for their fifth round on Tuesday in Washington.

According to Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar, a Qatar-backed proposal approved during talks in Switzerland would have Doha conduct indirect negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah, while still keeping the Lebanese official side involved, with the goal of reaching a stable, long-term ceasefire. The report said France and the UN would not be involved. Qatar reportedly advanced the idea through contacts with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia before briefing the United States, which then informed Israel, reportedly to Israel's discomfort. The paper also claimed Qatar used the Iranian-American talks channel to push Israel into the process and updated Lebanese President Joseph Aoun so he would not obstruct it.

A separate account from Lebanon's Al-Jadeed said Qatar would mediate between Israel and the Lebanese state, in coordination with the United States, as part of the mechanism proposed in Switzerland, and would work to reduce tensions. That report said Qatar would also coordinate with Saudi Arabia, while the issue of Israeli withdrawal would be discussed in Washington. Aoun said today, “We welcome any assistance to end the war, but we distinguish between assistance and interference in our internal affairs. We are a sovereign state and no one negotiates on our behalf.”

Former Israeli National Security Council official Dr. Yoel Guzansky, now a senior researcher and head of the Gulf program at INSS, said the United States is what drives Qatar's involvement. He argued that Qatar's interests in Lebanon may align with Israel's because it opposes Hezbollah and wants to strengthen Lebanon's government and Aoun. Still, he warned that Qatar's money could also be used to “silence noise” and potentially help terrorist actors, so any funding should go to institutions such as the Lebanese government, the Lebanese army and the economy, under close U.S. coordination and transparency.