In this handout photograph released by the Lebanese presidency's press office, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (L) meets veteran Lebanese diplomat Simon Karam at the Baabda Presidential Palace on May 8, 2026. Lebanon's Simon Karam and Israel's Yechiel Leiter, both political veterans with entrenched views, will come face to face in Washington for talks on May 14 after decades in a state of war. Lebanon and Israel have no formal ties, but the US president is hoping for a historic breakthrough even as Israeli forces remain deployed in south Lebanon to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / LEBANESE PRESIDENCY" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / TO GO WITH ISRAEL-LEBANON-US-CONFLICT-DIPLOMACY, PROFILE BY LAYAL ABOU RAHAL WITH GIANLUCA PACCHIANI