Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed he has ordered direct talks with Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and establish peaceful relations between the two countries.
On 9 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed his cabinet to begin “direct negotiations” with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” stating the talks will focus on disarming Hezbollah, Israel’s longtime adversary, and fostering good relations between the two nations.
“Considering Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct talks with Israel, yesterday I instructed the cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Netanyahu further stated that the negotiations will prioritize “disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.” He also added that Israel “responds to today’s statement by the Lebanese Prime Minister calling for Beirut to be a demilitarized zone.”
However, Lebanon has yet to issue any response to Netanyahu’s statement.
Meanwhile, Israel faces strong international condemnation following a major attack on Lebanon after a ceasefire involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The conflict has resulted in 182 deaths and 890 injuries.
Iran insists Lebanon should be protected under the ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan. However, the governments of Donald Trump and Israel have stated that the ceasefire does not cover operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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Source:cnn