Israel's overture this week to Syria and Lebanon for a peace deal has sparked mixed reactions in both countries, where the idea of normalizing ties has long been considered taboo.
On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country had an "interest in adding countries, Syria and Lebanon, our neighbors, to the circle of peace and normalization while safeguarding Israel's essential and security interests".

Hezbollah is waiting to receive a copy of the Lebanese paper that is being prepared by President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam in response to the paper submitted by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, informed political sources said.

A high-ranking political source, familiar with ongoing talks, has confirmed to al-Joumhouria newspaper that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's six-page paper presented to Lebanon focuses on Hezbollah's disarmament, as well as that of other factions, and Lebanon's relationship with Syria, including border demarcation.

Security on Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria is “under control” and “sponsored by Saudi Arabia” and the reports about a build-up of foreign fighters on the frontier are “baseless,” senior diplomatic sources told the al-Anbaa news portal of the Progressive Socialist Party.

Lebanese officials are racing against time to reach “acceptable formats” for a Lebanese paper responding to a U.S. proposal calling for an end to Israel’s attacks and the withdrawal of its forces in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament, a media report said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that “things are going in a positive manner with President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri” regarding Lebanon’s response to the U.S. paper of demands.

Hezbollah has a “different approach” regarding the paper that has been submitted by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to Lebanon, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday.

President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam have made “significant progress” in their deliberations ahead of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s second visit to Beirut, which is expected before July 10, Lebanese sources said.

Syria is now ready to work on land demarcation with Lebanon, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said Tuesday.
Rajji said Lebanon has received "secret documents" from France of a French demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border that would help the two countries demarcate their land borders.

A child was lightly wounded in an Israeli drone strike Tuesday on the road leading to the al-Jabal al-Ahmar area in the southern Nabatieh district, the Health Ministry said.
