Lebanon, Israel to meet again Thursday for direct talks, US says

US confirms second round of negotiations between the two countries as the Israeli military annihilates Lebanese towns.The United States will host a second round of talks between Lebanon and Israel on Thursday, the US Department of State has confirmed, as the two countries push on with direct negotiations amid regional tensions.The talks, which will take place at the State Department, will be the first since a fragile ceasefire came into effect between Hezbollah and Israel last week.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3The EU must not wait till Israel starts executing Palestinianslist 2 of 3Iraq’s ruling Shia bloc races to choose PM as US, Iran watchlist 3 of 3Cloud over US-Iran talks: What are the key sticking points?end of list“The United States welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,” a State Department spokesperson told Al Jazeera. “We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.”Lebanese and Israeli officials met last week for the first time in decades, sparking anger from Hezbollah and its allies.But after the ceasefire came into effect, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reasserted on Friday that Beirut will continue on the path of negotiations with Israel.“These negotiations are not a weakness. They are not a retreat. They are not a concession,” Aoun said in a televised address.“They are a decision stemming from the strength in our belief in our rights and care for our people, and our responsibility to protect our country by all means possible.”Hezbollah has described the talks as part of a series of “losing concessions” that the Lebanese government is making to Israel.“We reject the negotiations with the occupying Israeli entity. These negotiations are futile. These negotiations require a Lebanese consensus on changing direction,” Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said last week.