Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday that Hezbollah has fired more than seven thousand rockets, missiles and drones at Israel since March, as the second day of US-mediated diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon got under way at the State Department in Washington.
The talks come as the fragile ceasefire in southern Lebanon is already under strain — Hezbollah has accused Israel of violating the truce after Israeli forces killed several people in the south, while the Israeli military says those targeted were armed militants.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said Beirut will accept nothing less than a full Israeli withdrawal from the south.
Blake Sifton reports from Tel Aviv.
IN: “The violence...”
OUT: “...of the ceasefire.”
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Blake Sifton, reporting from Tel Aviv, says a pilot programme is being discussed that would see Israeli forces hand over some occupied areas to the Lebanese army — but Hezbollah is not at the negotiating table.
IN: “In direct talks...”
OUT: “...from the south.”
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Blake Sifton in Tel Aviv says a new monitoring body for the Lebanon ceasefire has drawn fierce criticism in Israel because it would not include Israeli representatives.
IN: “Separately, Qatar and...”
OUT: “...in southern Lebanon.”
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