JERUSALEM, April 9 (V7N) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he has instructed his cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between the two countries.  

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. Talks will focus on Hezbollah’s disarmament and formal peace ties, with Israeli media reporting that Ambassador Yeciel Leiter will represent Israel. 

The announcement came a day after Israel launched its largest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the war with Hezbollah began on March 2, leaving more than 200 people dead. Lebanon’s cabinet responded Thursday by ordering security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut exclusively to state institutions, warning Hezbollah against further military activity.  

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the army and security forces must “reinforce the full imposition of state authority over Beirut Governorate and monopolise weapons in the hands of legitimate authorities alone.” Lebanon had already banned Hezbollah’s military activities in March, but the Iran-backed group has continued operations.  

Beirut had committed in 2025 to disarm Hezbollah, the only faction to retain arms after Lebanon’s 1975–1990 civil war. In December, Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks in decades under a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, though the two countries still lack formal diplomatic relations.  

END/WD/RH