Israel and Lebanon to hold second round of talks in US

A US State Department spokesman and an Israeli source speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters that Israeli and Lebanese representatives will hold talks in Washington DC.

The United States will host the second round of ambassador-level talks between the two countries at the State Department on Thursday, a State Department spokesman said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the first round of talks between Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Moawad—the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades—on April 14.

“We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments,” the spokesman said.

The second round of talks will be the first between the two countries since a 10-day ceasefire came into force on Thursday.

An Israeli official said the same representatives will attend Thursday’s talks.

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah opposes the talks but is complying with a 10-day ceasefire announced last week.

Israeli officials say the talks are aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon.

with AP