The United States is urging Lebanese leaders to establish direct political ties with Israel to strengthen the ceasefire regime in the south and resolve the land border dispute, Reuters reported, citing Lebanese sources.
The United States has increased pressure on Beirut to take the dialogue with Israel to the next level.
Washington believes that the establishment of such direct contacts will contribute to easing the tension between the two countries.
According to the US Special Representative for Syria, Tom Barak, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun should "pick up the phone, call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and say, 'Let's end this nonsense.'
For his part, Aoun expressed to the American side his willingness to negotiate with Israel, but did not specify whether this implies the possibility of direct contact.
