[Netanyahu Orders Direct Negotiations with Lebanon, U.S. Media Reports First Talks to Be Held in the U.S. Next Week] BlockBeats News, April 10: According to Xinhua News Agency, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on the 9th stating that Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the Israeli government the previous day to initiate direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. U.S. media reported that the first round of talks will be held in the U.S. next week. The statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office noted that the focus of the negotiations will be on disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon and "establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon." The statement mentioned that this move was made in the context of "multiple requests from the Lebanese side to initiate direct negotiations with Israel." Netanyahu stated that Lebanese Prime Minister Salam called him on the 9th, seeking the "demilitarization of Beirut." Israel and Lebanon currently do not have diplomatic relations. According to a report by the U.S. news website Axios on the 9th, a senior Israeli official revealed that the first direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will be held next week at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. The Israeli side will be represented by its ambassador to the U.S., Yehiel Leit, while the Lebanese side will be represented by its ambassador to the U.S., Nada Hamad Mouawad. The U.S. delegation will be led by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea.