India, April 9 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon "as soon as possible," even as a fragile two-week truce between the United States, Israel, and Iran hangs in the balance.

"In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The statement also noted Israel's appreciation of calls from Lebanon's leadership to demilitarise Beirut.

Lebanon has spent the past 24 hours advocating for a temporary ceasefire to enable broader negotiations, a senior Lebanese official told Reuters.

The official described the proposal as a ...