JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Lebanon laid out different expectations on Monday ahead of their upcoming talks in Washington, with Israel insisting on Hezbollah's disarmament and a peace agreement, and Lebanon voicing hope for a ceasefire and the launch of direct negotiations.
"What we are looking to see in this dialogue is that Lebanon is committed to disarming Hezbollah, removing all its weapons, demilitarizing southern Lebanon, and also reaching a peace agreement between our two countries," Shosh Bedrosian, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, told reporters.
She said Israel "will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks against Israel and our civilians."
In contrast, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during a meeting at Baabda Palace with visiting Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, said Lebanon hopes the talks "will lead to a ceasefire to launch direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel."
According to a report by Lebanon's official National News Agency, Aoun stressed that negotiations with Israel are the sole responsibility of the Lebanese state and that a real opportunity now exists to reach a sustainable solution, calling on Israel to respond to appeals to halt its attacks and engage in negotiations.
Ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel are due to begin rare direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, with the participation of U.S. officials. Italy has expressed readiness to host future direct negotiations between the two sides.
Meanwhile, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued. The Israel Defense Forces said Monday it struck 150 Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours and intercepted more than 10 drones launched by the Lebanese group. Hezbollah said it launched new missiles at Israeli forces on Monday afternoon. ■
