![Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visits an Israeli military unit stationed in the occupied territory of southern Lebanon on April 12, 2026. [Kobi Gideon - GPO - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AA-20260412-41091368-41091366-ISRAELI_PM_BENJAMIN_NETANYAHU_VISITS_MILITARY_UNIT_IN_SOUTHERN_LEBANON-1.jpg)
Israel pre-empted a Tuesday meeting with Lebanon in Washington by rejecting a ceasefire during preliminary talks, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Anadolu reports. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views the start of the talks as “a tactic to buy time without stopping the fighting, while showing goodwill toward the Americans and (US) President Donald Trump,” the daily said, citing Israeli sources. The sources expressed skepticism about the possibility of making progress in the planned talks. Since March 2, Israel has been carrying out an expanded offensive in Lebanon that has killed 2,089 and injured 6,762 others. The US State Department said in a statement on Monday evening that the talks will be held at the department’s headquarters in Washington on […]
