Israel wants to start peace talks with Lebanon ‘as soon as possible’, says Netanyahu

• Netanyahu wants direct peace talks with Lebanon, including Hezbollah's disarmament, following Lebanon's requests.
• President Aoun seeks a ceasefire followed by direct negotiations, noting positive international responses to his diplomatic efforts.
• Conflict escalated after Hezbollah's attacks on March 2, resulting in casualties and displacement on both sides.

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on April 9 that he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the Cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Mr Netanyahu said in a statement.

“The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.”

There was no immediate response from the Lebanese government to Mr Netanyahu’s remarks.

An hour before Mr Netanyahu’s statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that “the only solution to the situation in Lebanon is to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, followed by direct negotiations between them.”

He said he was working on a diplomatic track on this matter that was starting to be seen “positively” by international actors.

Israel launched a renewed offensive against Hezbollah after the Iran-backed militia began firing at Israel on March 2.

Israeli strikes have killed around 1,700 people and uprooted more than a million people, according to Lebanese authorities.

At least 400 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, according to sources familiar with the group, which has fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel. REUTERS