Lebanon’s cabinet on Thursday approved, by consensus and with the participation of ministers from the Amal-Hezbollah Shiite “duo,” a decision formally described as “taking note” of ongoing Lebanese–Israeli negotiations being held in Washington, in a move that clarifies the procedural framework governing the talks while reaffirming government oversight over any potential outcome.

The decision, presented in the cabinet as a “take note” measure, effectively endorses the continuation of the negotiating process by authorizing Lebanon’s delegation in Washington to “take all necessary steps to reach the desired outcome.” At the same time, it explicitly preserves the Cabinet’s final authority, stating that any agreement emerging from the discussions will require formal approval by the Council of Ministers.

According to the official wording of the document, which was approved by the cabinet and signed by Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Judge Mahmoud Makkieh, the government “took note of the authorization granted by the President of the Republic, in agreement with the Prime Minister, to the negotiating delegation in Washington (United States of America),” and tasked the delegation with advancing the talks under their supervision.

The text further stresses that while the delegation is empowered to act to achieve the desired outcome, any resulting agreement remains subject to Cabinet approval in accordance with Article 52 of the Lebanese Constitution, which governs the negotiation and ratification of international treaties.

The decision was adopted unanimously, including by ministers affiliated with the Shiite “duo,” underscoring a rare moment of collective agreement within a cabinet often marked by political divisions over foreign policy and security-related files.

By framing the move as “taking note,” the government preserved a formal balance between endorsing the negotiating mechanism and maintaining constitutional safeguards over Lebanon’s sovereign decision-making authority, particularly in talks of a sensitive regional nature involving Israel.