Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has instructed officials to begin direct peace negotiations with Lebanon, with a central focus on disarming the Hezbollah militant group.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the decision follows repeated requests from Lebanon to initiate direct talks with Israel. “I have given instructions to commence direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said, adding that discussions will address both Hezbollah’s disarmament and the establishment of peaceful relations between the two countries.
The announcement comes after a call from Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Salam advocating for Hezbollah’s disarmament, which Netanyahu welcomed. No immediate response has been reported from Lebanon regarding the initiative.
Hezbollah, particularly its armed wing, is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and members of the European Union. Germany banned Hezbollah’s activities on its soil in 2020, formally classifying it as a terrorist group.
The proposed talks mark a rare opportunity for direct diplomatic engagement between Israel and Lebanon, amid longstanding regional tensions and repeated cross-border conflicts involving Hezbollah.
