HIBAPRESS – Follow-up
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has instructed the start of peace talks with Lebanon, including the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Netanyahu said in a statement, "In light of the repeated Lebanese demands to open direct negotiations with Israel, I have instructed the mini-security cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon." According to Netanyahu's statement, "Israel appreciates Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's call today to clear Beirut of weapons." Earlier today, the Lebanese Prime Minister said that his government had decided to immediately begin to strengthen the full control of the state over the Beirut governorate, with weapons limited to the legitimate forces alone, and tightening the application of laws and referring violators to the competent judiciary. On Wednesday, Israel launched its widest Israeli attack on Lebanon, after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary ceasefire in Iran, and in contradiction to Iranian and Pakistani announcements, Israel said that "the ceasefire does not include Lebanon." The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted an Israeli security source as saying that "understandings were reached between the political leadership in America and Israel to separate the Lebanese and Iranian fronts."
