Netanyahu orders direct talks with Lebanon US media reports that the first talks will be held in the US next week

On April 10, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on the 9th saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli government the day before to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. U.S. media reported that the first negotiations will be held in the United States next week. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated in a statement that the talks focus on disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon and "establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon." The statement said that the move was made against the background of "Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel." Netanyahu said that Lebanon Prime Minister Salam called him on the 9th to seek the "demilitarization of Beirut." Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic relations. According to a report on the U.S. Aksios News website on the 9th, a senior Israeli official said that the first direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will be held next week at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., the capital. Israel will be represented by its Ambassador to the United States, Jeshel Wright, Lebanon will be represented by its Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamad Muawad, and the U.S. delegation will be led by the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa. (Xinhua Agency)