Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he has instructed his Cabinet to launch direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.
- However, an Israeli official told Axios that Israel would not observe a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Why it matters: Netanyahu's statement follows Wednesday calls with President Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. Senior U.S. officials said Witkoff asked Netanyahu to "calm down" the strikes in Lebanon and open negotiations.