An Israeli spokesperson said on Monday (June 22) that Israel wants an agreement with Lebanon, adding that U.S.-mediated talks between the countries are taking place in Washington. In April, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades and both sides said they held positive discussions. The meeting marked a rare encounter between representatives of governments that have technically been in a state of war since Israel was established in 1948. Several more meetings were reported since April, but on the ground violence between Israel and the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon continued despite repeated U.S. announcements on a ceasefire. Show more Show less