Israel seeks 'normalization' with Lebanon as countries enter talks about border disputes and 5 points held by IDF

Israel is seeking normalization with Lebanon, an Israeli political official told media outlets Wednesday, after representatives from Israel, Lebanon, the United States, and France agreed to form working groups to discuss several outstanding disputes.

The agreement was reached in a meeting in a-Naqoura, situated on the Lebanese coast, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated on Tuesday.

"The discussions with Lebanon are part of a broad and comprehensive plan. The Prime Minister's policy has already changed the Middle East and we want to continue the momentum and reach normalization with Lebanon," the source stated.

"Just as Lebanon has claims regarding borders, so do we. We will discuss these matters."

Israel also announced Tuesday it would release five Lebanese detainees “as a gesture to the new President of Lebanon.”

The PMO stated that the negotiations aim to "stabilize the area" and resolve outstanding disputes, including the release of remaining Lebanese detainees, the five points still held by the IDF in Lebanese territory, and the 13 contested points along the Blue Line.

Lebanon later announced that four detainees had been received from Israel, while the fifth would be handed over on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Lebanese president's office on 𝕏.

“Today, the United States announced we are bringing together Lebanon and Israel for talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues between the two countries,” said U.S. Deputy Presidential Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus, praising the agreement.

However, the Lebanese side expressed less enthusiasm. Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Metri stressed that there were no official diplomatic contacts with Israel.

“There are no political negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, the negotiations are between military personnel,” Metri told the TV channel Al-Sharq.

According to the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper al-Akhbar, which cited sources from the terror group, negotiations began some time ago, and the current statement came after President Joseph Aoun requested the U.S. pressure Israel into concessions.

The report noted that Lebanon felt embarrassed for not receiving concessions after agreeing to extend the ceasefire, despite U.S. assurances regarding Lebanese detainees in Israel.

The sources also said that Aoun clarified to the U.S. that Hezbollah would need to be consulted during the negotiations.

לשכת רה"מ מאשרת את הדיווחים כי ישראל החלה לנהל מו"מ על נקודות המחלוקת לאורך גבול ישראל לבנון, בתיווך אמריקאי.

13 הנקודות (באדום) נוצרו לאחר נסיגת ישראל מלבנון בשנת 2000. שני הצדדים התבססו על הגבול שנקבע ב-1923 על ידי הבריטים והצרפתים. לאחר הנסיגה, הגבול הוגדר על המפה בתור "הקו… pic.twitter.com/Hk6R8MmrV9

— Ben Tzion Macales (@BenTzionMacales) March 11, 2025

Despite a general withdrawal of troops, the IDF maintains five strategically important positions on various hills within Lebanese territory.

The Israeli military reported that it is “preparing for a long stay until Hezbollah withdraws from south of the Litani River.”

The IDF noted that the outposts are overlooking large parts of the border area and will enable the army to effectively defend it.

In addition, there are 13 points of contention along the Israeli-Lebanese border that have never been resolved.

The border is based on the demarcation between the French and British mandates at the start of the previous century. The “Blue Line” was marked by the United Nations after Israel left the security zone in Lebanon in 2000, however, the demarcation relied upon old maps and left out disputed areas.

The points include several highly strategic areas. The westernmost point is known as “B1,” located on the coastline of the Mediterranean.

“This is a strategic point that we control, and Hezbollah wants us to withdraw from it so that it belongs to Lebanon,” Shadi Khalloul, a lieutenant colonel in the IDF reserves, told Channel 12.

“If the point moves, the entire maritime border would have to move accordingly, and based on it, the whole border could be adjusted,” Khalloul, a member of the Alma Research Center, added.

Another key issue is the divided Alawite village of Ghajar. While the border runs through the center of the small town, Israel controls its entire area. The village was a closed military zone and was only opened to Israeli visitors in 2022.

Another disputed area is Mount Dov, which the Lebanese side calls the Shebaa Farms. This area was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War from Syria, and annexed as part of the Golan Heights in 1981.

In 2023, a crisis emerged when Hezbollah pitched several tents on the Israeli side of the border in this area.