Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he has instructed his cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, aiming to disarm Hezbollah and establish what he described as "peace relations" between the two countries.
"In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible," his office wrote in a statement.
"Negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates today's call by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarise Beirut," the press release added.
Israeli media outlets reported that Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., would represent the country in the talks.
The statement came one day after Israel launched its largest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the start of its war with Hezbollah on March 2, killing more than 254 people.
