Herzog says French offer to mediate with Lebanon 'very positive'
Israeli President Isaac Herzog told AFP on Monday that an offer by French leader Emmanuel Macron to host direct talks with Lebanon was "a very positive development".
"I think it's very important that there should be talks," Herzog said in an interview with AFP at his Jerusalem residence.
"Talks are very important, because it's about time we have an opportunity of moving forward with Lebanon," he said.
So far the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given no public indication that talks with Beirut are on the table.
Israeli officials have repeatedly railed against the Lebanese authorities for what they say are failures to honour a commitment to disarm Hezbollah.
Herzog also said that Europe should back Israel's fight against Hezbollah, as Israeli forces carried out ground operations in Lebanon.
"Europe should support any effort, any effort, to eradicate Hezbollah now," Herzog said.
"They should understand that if you want to get anywhere, sometimes you need to win war," he added.
Source: Agence France Presse
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