Israeli, Lebanese representatives expected to meet for talks in coming days -- media

JERUSALEM, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from Israel and Lebanon are expected to meet for a round of talks in the coming days amid the intensified fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported Saturday.

The newspaper cited a source familiar with the matter as saying that Israeli former minister Ron Dermer, who was asked to handle the "Lebanon file" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will meet with Lebanese representatives for direct negotiations.

The source added that the United States is also involved in the process, led on its behalf by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Another source told the newspaper that the talks between Israel and Lebanon could take place in Cyprus or Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in a Hebrew-language post on social media X on Saturday that he was ready to help hold these discussions and host them in Paris, and called on Israel to avoid a large-scale ground operation in Lebanon.

Macron wrote that he spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and that they agreed to hold direct talks with Israel.

Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel subsequently launched an offensive military campaign against the group, carrying out intensive airstrikes on multiple areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut's southern suburbs. ■