Israeli Prime Minister reacts to Beirut’s announcement banning weapons from non-state groups and seeks peaceful settlement after new escalation in conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this Thursday (9) that he ordered his cabinet to immediate start of “direct negotiations” with Lebanon, with Main focus on disarmament of Hezbollahan Islamic movement allied with Iran.
“Following repeated requests from Lebanon to begin direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin negotiations as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a post on social media. “The negotiations will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the establishment of peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon,” he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed at the Government meeting yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.
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— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM)
Netanyahu welcomed the announcement made by the Lebanese government this Thursday, which prohibits weapons belonging to non-state groups in Beirut, a decision taken after Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah targets. According to local media outlets, the negotiations on the Israeli side will be led by Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter. Contacted by AFP, a Lebanese official said that Beirut would not comment on the matter.
Hezbollah entered the Middle East war on March 2, following the Israeli-American offensive against Iran that resulted in death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with a extensive campaign of air strikes throughout Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south of the country.
On March 9, Lebanese President Josef Aoun proposed a “complete truce” with Israel and expressed his favor for direct negotiations under international mediation — the two countries have technically been at war since 1948. After the last conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2023, the ceasefire signed in November 2024 specifically provided for the disarmament of the Shiite group and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Beirut had promised to disarm Hezbollah, the only group that kept its weapons after the end of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990).
A new one was signed on Wednesday (8) between Iran and the United States, but Israel claims that the understanding does not apply to Lebanon. The international community fears that continued Israeli airstrikes will compromise the fragile balance achieved.
*With information from AFP
