Israel confirmed that the first direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese civilian representatives in decades took place on Wednesday, part of a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism in the war with militant group Hezbollah.
“Today’s meeting in Lebanon is an initial attempt to establish a basis for a relationship and economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon,” Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told journalists.
“Be in no doubt that this direct meeting between Israel and Lebanon took place as a result of Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu’s efforts to change the face of the Middle East.”
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