Lebanonunveils its conditions for  Tuesday's direct negotiations with Israel

Lebanese official sources revealed that Tuesday's session between Lebanon and Israel will be limited to the issue of a "ceasefire", as Lebanon will demand Israel's commitment to this, otherwise there will be no negotiations.

Official Lebanese sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the Lebanese priorities in sequence start with the ceasefire, then the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, followed by other items.

The sources pointed out that the US administration informed Lebanon that "the ceasefire will be before Tuesday, and after the agreement of the parties to cease hostilities from both sides, the timing will be agreed."

On a related note, Lebanese media quoted a US official as saying: "Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's visit to the United States was not canceled by the American side, but Salam decided to postpone it due to internal circumstances."

For their part, Arab diplomatic sources told Lebanese media that "there is Arab appreciation for Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's decision to postpone his visit to Washington and to pay attention to Lebanese internal affairs in this difficult situation."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stipulated the disarmament of Lebanese Hezbollah and a "lasting peace" in two pre-conditions for direct negotiations with Lebanon.

 Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue  for the fifth day in a row, as Lebanon and Israel prepare to hold their first face-to-face meeting at the US State Department's headquarters in Washington next Tuesday, to discuss setting the date for the start of direct negotiations.