Lebanon to hold direct talks with Israel: Youssef Raghi

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raghi said Lebanon has decided to hold direct talks with Israel to achieve a permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory. He made the remarks in a phone call with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Al Jazeera reported.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (April 28) that the two leaders discussed the latest security situation in Lebanon. At the time, Poland expressed support for Lebanon and strongly opposed any attempt to change the country’s internationally recognized borders or seize any Lebanese territory.
In the context of the US-Israeli and Iran-Iraq wars, clashes between Israel and the armed group Hezbollah resumed on March 2. The United States announced on April 23 that it would extend the fragile Lebanon-Israel ceasefire for another three weeks, although Hezbollah did not participate. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s chief rejected an offer of talks with Israel yesterday, saying it would create instability.