The corridors of Whitehall are abuzz tonight. A diplomatic coup, they're calling it. A framework deal between Israel and Lebanon, hammered out with British fingers firmly on the tiller. Quiet words, back channels. The kind of thing that rarely sees the light of day.
Sources close to the Foreign Office confirm the outline of an agreement. Mutual recognition of maritime borders. A shared energy exploration zone. The details are still being glossed, but the direction is clear. De-escalation. Pragmatism.
Downing Street is playing it cool. A terse statement from the PM's spokesman. 'The United Kingdom welcomes the constructive dialogue between Israel and Lebanon.' No triumphalism. That's not how this game is played.
But the whispers tell a different story. This is a personal victory for the Foreign Secretary. A thorny file, passed from desk to desk. Resolved on his watch. His allies are already talking up his credentials. 'He gets the Middle East,' one confided. 'He understands the chessboard.'
Opposition benches are taking note. Labour's shadow foreign secretary offered cautious support. 'Any progress is progress,' she said. But the subtext was clear. They'll be watching. Waiting for a stumble.
The real test, of course, is implementation. Beirut and Tel Aviv have both signalled willingness. But the region is littered with broken frameworks. Empty vessels. The devil in the detail.
One insider put it bluntly: 'This is a good start. But it's a marathon, not a sprint.' British diplomats are already dispatched. Technical teams. Negotiators. The machine is in motion.
For now, the PM gets a rare win on foreign policy. A distraction from domestic woes. The backbench grumbles about Rwanda and NHS waiting lists will resume soon enough. But tonight, in the bars and clubs of Westminster, the talk is of a small miracle. British soft power, flexed.
We wait for the formal announcement. The signed documents. But the game is afoot. And London is at the table.
