Report: Meeting held in Baabda to discuss direct negotiations with Israel

President Joseph Aoun has presided over a meeting in Baabda with the Lebanese delegation headed by Simon Karam that will possibly conduct direct, U.S.-mediated negotiations with Israel, a diplomatic source told the Lebanese news portal East News.

This comes after Beirut was informed of U.S. approval of Aoun's negotiations initiative, the report said.

During the meeting, Aoun noted that his initiative came after consultations with all political factions in Lebanon without exception, the report said.

He noted that the venue for the negotiations, either Paris or Cyprus, will be decided on Monday, and that the decision will be officially announced by the relevant parties.

An official later confirmed to AFP that Lebanon is preparing to form a delegation to negotiate with Israel, adding that there was still no Israeli commitment to the initiative.

"Negotiations are on the table and preparations are underway to form a delegation, but... neither the timing nor the location has been determined, with Paris and Cyprus being considered," the official said, adding: "We also need an Israeli commitment to a truce."

An Axios report on Saturday cited sources as saying the French government had drafted a plan to end the war in Lebanon that would require the government in Beirut to officially recognize Israel.