Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold further direct negotiations "at a mutually agreed-upon time and place," according to a statement from the US State Department's deputy spokesperson, following direct talks that took place in Washington on Tuesday.
During the discussions, the first held between the two sides in decades, "the United States expressed its hope that the talks can go beyond the scope of the 2024 agreement and bring about a comprehensive peace agreement," the statement said, the Telegraph reports.
"The United States asserted that any agreement to cease hostilities should be reached between the two governments, mediated by the United States, and not through any particular route," she said.
"The United States underscored that these negotiations have the potential to unlock significant reconstruction and economic recovery assistance for Lebanon, and expand investment opportunities for both countries," she added.
"Israel expressed its commitment to engage in direct negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and achieve a lasting peace that will strengthen security, stability and prosperity in the region," the statement noted.
Lebanon, she said, “reaffirmed the urgent need for the full implementation of the November 2024 cessation of hostilities announcement, underlining the principles of territorial integrity and full state sovereignty, while calling for a ceasefire and concrete measures to address and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis that the country continues to experience as a result of the ongoing conflict.” /Telegraph/
