As a direct result of Hezbollah's reckless actions, the Israeli and Lebanese governments are engaging in open, direct, high-level diplomatic talks — the first such talks since 1993-brokered by the United States.

This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel's northern border and support the Government of Lebanon's determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory and political life.

Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, so there is no reason the two neighbors should not be talking.

🇺🇸 Secretary of State Marco Rubio
🇺🇸 U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa
🇺🇸 Counselor Michael Needham
🇮🇱 Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter
🇱🇧 Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh

I do support Israel. I am a staunch supporter of Israel.

And I am a staunch opponent of Netanyahu. He has stayed too long. He has, in my view, undermined Israel’s long-term security.

When people say, "Well, you've got to support Netanyahu if you are pro-Israeli."

I say, "Look, I love America, and I'm really opposed to Donald Trump. Does that make me anti-American? I don't think so."

The Israeli people have to decide who their leaders are.

I hope, like the people of Hungary, they realize that their economy has been undermined, their unity within Israel has been put at risk, and their security and safety are not yet what they need to be, because they have leadership that is not going to—in my view—act in the best interests of Israel and the future of Israel.

Israel itself has lived in a very dangerous neighborhood for a very long time.

It deserves our support separate and apart from Netanyahu.

It's shocking that Trump said nobody told him that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz.

Every war game I was ever involved in, that was the first thing we assumed Iran would do.

We're in a situation now where we are weak, where we essentially have lost the leverage and initiative that we had.

I know from personal experience how Netanyahu has tried to get every American president to agree to have an open-ended war with Iran.

I had many, many long, hours-long conversations. with him and his war cabinet about this and refusing to go along with a very inchoate desire to do something to Iran with no real end state that could be described sufficiently.

There seems to be some opening here. I've been advocating behind the scenes for this now for several months.

Israel should support this Lebanese government.

There has not been a better Lebanese government since the Syrians and Iranians assassinated Hariri.

See how far you can help them to go to disarm Hezbollah and to create better conditions for a lasting, secure peace between Lebanon and Israel.

I thought that was blasphemy.

As a Christian, I was very offended.