Israel rejects ceasefire talks with Hezbollah but agrees to negotiating with Lebanon

Israel has refused to discuss a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the group fighting against Israeli occupation in Lebanon, but has agreed to begin formal peace negotiations with Lebanon’s government, Israel’s ambassador to the US said in a statement on Friday. 

This comes after the Israeli ambassador to the US held a phone call earlier on Friday with ambassadors from Lebanon and the US, during which they agreed to meet for the first time on Tuesday to discuss ceasefire arrangements.