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Cyprus as Potential Venue for Direct Israel-Lebanon Talks Amidst Turkish Discomfort

Published January 25, 2026, 16:08
Cyprus as Potential Venue for Direct Israel-Lebanon Talks Amidst Turkish Discomfort

Israel is seeking direct political negotiations with Lebanon, bypassing indirect meetings, with Cyprus emerging as a potential venue for the talks. This move comes at a time when the ceasefire monitoring committee is inactive and the UNIFIL mandate is nearing its expiration. Lebanon is seeking international support, while Turkey expresses discomfort over the maritime zone agreement between Lebanon and Cyprus, viewing it as a shift by Beirut towards the Western axis. Ankara is concerned about the limitation of its geopolitical role in the region, while Hezbollah remains cautious about the strengthening of Western influence.