Report: Israel on its way to an agreement with Hezbollah

According to the report, Hezbollah stated that it will cease rocket fire if Israel halts its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Should this occur, both Israel and Hezbollah have signalled to Western mediators that they would be willing to initiate formal negotiations, according to three Western sources familiar with the positions of the parties and an Israeli source.

The sources added that even if these negotiations ultimately fail, the hope is that the initiative could provide both sides with an excuse to maintain an unofficial ceasefire and allow displaced residents to safely return home.

Reportedly, these negotiations will focus on the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters from southernmost areas of Lebanon and the placement of additional Lebanese army soldiers, according to the sources. The discussions will also address how to delineate the westernmost parts of the border between the two countries, the sources said, noting that the border has never been formally defined as there is no diplomatic relations between the two states.