Lebanon and Israel have begun widening the mandate of the “Mechanism” committee to include political discussions and potential cross-border economic cooperation, in what Lebanese sources described as the most significant evolution of the forum since its creation.

Lebanese sources familiar with the recent meeting, the first to include civilians from both Lebanese and Israeli sides, told Erem News that it focused on expanding the agenda beyond security issues to political matters and the idea of a joint economic zone along the border. According to the sources, the two sides have reached a preliminary agreement to convene a second session on December 19.

The committee, originally established to monitor the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, has been gradually shifting from a narrow military framework to a broader political and diplomatic mechanism, the sources said. 

While the diplomatic reorientation remains in its early stages, Lebanese officials said the participation of civilian delegations from both countries—under U.S. sponsorship—opened the door to addressing issues that had been off-limits in past meetings.

For the first time, former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Simon Karam headed Beirut’s delegation, facing Israeli National Security Council foreign policy director Yuri Resnick. The meeting was chaired by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, marking a significant shift from the committee’s long-standing pattern of monthly military sessions and weekly officer-level meetings held under a civilian façade.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has publicly downplayed the scope of the talks, insisting they are “aimed solely at reinforcing the ceasefire and not peace negotiations.” But Lebanese sources argued that Salam’s remarks were intended to shield the government from domestic pushback, particularly from Hezbollah and other groups that oppose any form of normalization with Israel.

Ortagus, however, called the meeting “a historic step toward a broad and comprehensive agreement between the two countries,” saying the committee’s evolving mandate was transforming the Mechanism into a political instrument for managing the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office similarly welcomed the session as “positive and paving the way for economic cooperation,” adding that the committee was now functioning as “a political negotiating table.” But the statement stressed that Israel would require “complete disarmament” before moving forward with any additional steps.