Israeli and Lebanese Ambassadors Meet in Washington as Rome Talks Stay Postponed

September 15, 2026 — Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad met at the State Department, the lower-level stopgap flagged September 12 after the eighth round of Rome talks was pushed to October. An Israeli official told Haaretz on September 14 the meeting would take place 'this week' to keep the stalled June 26 framework process alive — covering phased Hezbollah disarmament and a corresponding Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, including the disputed 'pilot zones.' No decisions or agreements were expected to emerge; officials described it as maintaining communication rather than advancing substantive terms, with the next formal negotiating round due in Rome in October.