Trump Says Israeli and Lebanese Leaders to Speak for First Time in Decades

by | Apr 16, 2026 | News

a view of a beach with buildings in the background

President Trump announced Wednesday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak by phone Thursday — the first such contact between the two countries in roughly 34 years.

“Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!”

Trump did not specify which leaders would participate — whether Prime Minister Netanyahu or President Herzog on the Israeli side, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun or Prime Minister Nawaf Salam representing Beirut.

The announcement follows trilateral talks hosted by the US this week. Lebanon has historically conditioned high-level engagement with Israel on a ceasefire, which Jerusalem has resisted as it continues operations against Hezbollah. Israel’s security cabinet met Tuesday night to discuss a potential Lebanon ceasefire but reportedly reached no decision.

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