Israeli and Lebanese officials met directly in the southern Lebanon town of Naqoura on Friday, as the two enemy states look to maintain the year-old ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah, amid fears that conflict with the Iran-backed terror group could soon erupt again.

Friday’s forum was the 15th time the so-called “Pentalateral” committee, aimed at preserving the ceasefire has convened, though it was only the second time in decades that Israeli and Lebanese civilian officials have met directly, after a meeting earlier this month. Lebanon and Israel have been officially enemy nations since the Jewish state’s founding in 1948.

Representing Israel at the meeting was National Security Council official Joseph (Yossi) Draznin, replacing his deputy, Eli Resnick, who represented Israel at the first direct talks on December 3.

The talks, which were held at the UN peacekeeping force’s headquarters in the coastal border town, were also attended by a number of civilian representatives from the two countries.

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the meeting examined “ways to advance economic initiatives in order to demonstrate the mutual interest in removing the Hezbollah threat and to ensure sustainable security for residents on both sides of........

© The Times of Israel