Israeli, Lebanese officials to meet Thursday for 2nd round of talks -- Israeli state media

JERUSALEM -- Israeli and Lebanese officials will meet on Thursday for a second round of peace talks, an Israeli official told Xinhua on Monday.

The two sides will meet in Washington for direct talks, the official said on condition of anonymity, without providing further details.

Meanwhile, Reuters, citing an Israeli source, reported that Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, who took part in the first round of talks on Tuesday, will lead the Israeli delegation this time.

The meeting will be the first of its kind since a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT) after weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Earlier on Monday, the Lebanese presidency said on social media platform X that the Lebanese delegation will be headed by former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Simon Karam.

The presidency said the goals of the negotiations are to halt hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern areas, and deploy the army to the internationally-recognized southern border.

"No one else will participate on Lebanon's behalf or take its place in this mission," it said.

It said the anticipated talks are separate from any other negotiation tracks, framing the situation as a choice between prolonged war with its humanitarian, social, economic, and sovereignty costs or a negotiated settlement.