Rubio Optimistic For Lasting Peace Between Israel, Lebanon
The initial round of talks marked a significant milestone, representing the first meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in more than four decades. The negotiations were led by a team appointed by Trump, working alongside Vice President JD Vance and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Air Force Gen. Dan Caine.
“We had a great meeting with very high officials of Lebanon and very high officials of Israel,” Trump said during a press conference on Thursday. “They’ve agreed to an additional three weeks of ceasefire. […] It’ll be a wonderful thing to get this worked out simultaneously with what we’re doing in Iran.” Advertisement He added later: “I think there’s a very good chance of having peace,” while Vance called the agreement “a major, historic moment.” Advertisement “We’re going to extend the ceasefire for three weeks, that’s already in place between Israel and Lebanon,” Vance said. “Of course, it wouldn’t have happened without the President’s direct engagement.”
.@VP: "I think this is a major, historic moment. We're going to extend the ceasefire for three weeks, that’s already in place between Israel and Lebanon. Of course, it would have happened without the President’s direct engagement." pic.twitter.com/UbwsqMPngq
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 23, 2026
Michel Issa, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, thanked the administration for brokering the talks. “I would like to thank the president, the vice president, and secretary to make this historical meeting today,” Issa said. “This is 60, 70 years in the making, and today is really a historical day.”
“We had a great meeting with very high officials of Lebanon and very high officials of Israel,” Trump said during a press conference on Thursday. “They’ve agreed to an additional three weeks of ceasefire. […] It’ll be a wonderful thing to get this worked out simultaneously with what we’re doing in Iran.” Advertisement He added later: “I think there’s a very good chance of having peace,” while Vance called the agreement “a major, historic moment.” Advertisement “We’re going to extend the ceasefire for three weeks, that’s already in place between Israel and Lebanon,” Vance said. “Of course, it wouldn’t have happened without the President’s direct engagement.”
The problem is Hezbollah.”
.@USAmbIsrael: "The people of Lebanon and the people of Israel are neighbors, and they want to get along — and they can get along… The problem is not Lebanon; the problem is not Israel. The problem is Hezbollah." https://t.co/1iomPIQeBh pic.twitter.com/KnIwfce5BI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 23, 2026
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said he is hoping for a more permanent accord. “We hope that together, under your leadership, we can formalize peace between Israel and Lebanon in the very near future,” Leiter said.
Israel's Ambassador to the United States @yechielleiter: "We hope that together, under your leadership, we can formalize peace between Israel and Lebanon in the very near future." pic.twitter.com/BIkUphdzcN
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 23, 2026
Rubio said both Israel and Lebanon have been affected by the activities of Hezbollah and described the extension of the ceasefire as an opportunity to continue efforts toward a more lasting resolution, the outlet reported. Advertisement Rubio also emphasized that negotiations are being conducted through the Lebanese government, stating that only the Lebanese state represents the country in diplomatic discussions, not non-state armed groups.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the two nations themselves are not obstacles to peace. “The people of Lebanon and the people of Israel are neighbors, and they want to get along, they can get along,” Huckabee said. “The problem is not Lebanon, the problem is not Israel
“The Lebanese people deserve to live in a peaceful and prosperous country. They have the opportunity to achieve it. They have a history of doing so. And what stands in the way is a terrorist organization operating within their national territory, and that threat must be eliminated,” said Rubio.
President Trump said he expects to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in the near future. “It was a Great Honor to be a participant at this very Historic Meeting!” Trump wrote in his original post.
Rubio also discussed Iran’s potential participation in the upcoming World Cup soccer matches in the United States. He said the U.S. has not barred Iranian athletes but “what they can’t bring is a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they’re journalists and athletic trainers.”
