Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he instructed officials to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the country.
“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed at the Government meeting yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement posted on US social media platform X.
The statement added that the negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing “peaceful relations” between Israel and Lebanon.
According to the US news portal Axios, a senior Israeli official said the talks are expected to begin next week.
The first meeting will reportedly take place at the State Department in Washington, with the US side led by Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.
Israel is to be represented by its Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, while Lebanon’s delegation will include Ambassador Nada Hamadeh-Moawad.
Israel’s Channel 14 reported that the negotiations “will be conducted under fire,” reflecting the ongoing military escalation in southern Lebanon.
Earlier, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the idea of a ceasefire with Israel, followed by direct negotiations, is beginning to gain positive momentum at the international level.
