The two countries do not have diplomatic relations and have been officially in a state of war since 1948.

Lebanon’s prime minister said his country was “far from” diplomatic normalisation or economic relations with Israel, despite a move towards direct negotiations between the two countries aimed at defusing tensions.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s comments to a small group of journalists in Beirut came in contradiction to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel would send an envoy to talks with Lebanese diplomatic and economic officials, which he described as an “initial attempt to create a basis for relations and economic co-operation” between the two countries.

Lebanon and Israel both announced the appointment of civilian members to a previously military-on

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