Israeli and Lebanese officials are scheduled to meet in Washington on April 14 to discuss ways to end fighting in Lebanon that has killed hundreds of people since renewed battles on March 2.
Lebanon’s presidency said Israeli and Lebanese delegations made their first contacts on April 10 ahead of the talks through a telephone call between their ambassadors in Washington, with the US envoy to Lebanon participating in the call.
“During the call, it was agreed to hold the first meeting next Tuesday [April 14] at the State Department to discuss declaring a cease-fire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices,” a statement said.
The US-brokered talks could play a major role in the search for a lasting cease-fire in the wider Middle East war involving US-Israeli forces against Iran.
The United States and Israel say Lebanon was not included in the agreed two-week cease-fire with Iran. Tehran, meanwhile, insists that it was and has threatened to halt the peace process unless Israel ceases its massive military campaign against Iran-allied Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Hezbollah, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, has suffered massive losses while also firing projectiles into Israeli territory. Israel said it will not be meeting with Hizbollah representatives in Washington.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the one-day toll from Israel’s air strikes on April 8 has risen to 357 people killed and 1,223 injured, with the totals expected to rise as rubble is cleared from buildings.
Lebanese authorities say 1,953 people have been killed since the fighting began on March 2.
