Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday evening that Israel would begin negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a full peace agreement between the countries.

The announcement came a day after the Jewish state led the largest and deadliest wave of airstrikes on its northern neighbor since the start of the current round of fighting with the Iran-backed terror group.

Jerusalem and Beirut seemed to be at odds over the conditions under which the talks would take place, with Lebanon demanding a ceasefire first, while Israel insisted that they be held under fire.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated appeals to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement, following heavy international pressure on Israel to engage in diplomacy.

The talks “will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon,” he said.

In a later video message, Netanyahu hailed the potential for a “historic and sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.”

In a message addressed to residents of northern Israel, the premier stressed that “there is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” noting that Israel was “continuing to strike Hezbollah with great force,” and would “not stop until we restore your security.”

“Our significant achievements both in Iran and against the axis of evil have brought about a historic change in Israel’s standing in the region,” he continued. “They have also led to changes in our relations with countries we did not have relations with before.”

Meanwhile, a senior Lebanese official told Reuters that Lebanon had spent the previous 24 hours advocating for a temporary ceasefire to allow for broader talks with Israel, saying it would be a “separate track but the same model” as a fragile truce brokered by Pakistan between the US and Iran.

The official said no date or location had been set yet, adding that Lebanon needed the US as a mediator and guarantor of any agreement.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in a statement that “the only solution to the situation Lebanon is facing is a ceasefire with Israel that would lead to direct negotiations between the two countries.”

At a meeting held earlier Thursday with representatives of Lebanon’s Maronite community, Aoun said the Lebanese proposal for a ceasefire and negotiations was beginning to receive positive responses in international circles, adding that Lebanon continued to hold international talks on the matter.

Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said the jihadist group rejects any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, reiterating “the necessity of upholding national........

© The Times of Israel