JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) – According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is striving for a “real peace agreement” with Lebanon. This should “last for generations,” he said in a video message with a view to upcoming negotiations in Washington on Tuesday. However, such an outcome of the talks is considered uncertain.
At the same time, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would continue to fight against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia until the security of the towns in northern Israel was guaranteed. Since the conflict flared up again at the beginning of March, Israel has killed several hundred Hezbollah fighters.
“As a result of the strength we have demonstrated, Lebanon has turned to us several times within the past month,” Netanyahu said. The aim was to “start direct peace talks”. He approved this under two conditions: the disarmament of Hezbollah and the agreement of a real peace agreement that would last. Other countries inside and outside the region have also turned to Israel “because they see our strength.”
First political talks in decades
The Lebanese government and Israel will hold direct political-level talks next week for the first time in decades. The Lebanese ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Jechiel Leiter, are scheduled to receive them on Tuesday.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has expressed interest in this on several occasions in the past and since the outbreak of the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah, which is allied with Iran, has so far firmly opposed this./le/DP/he
