Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted ambassadors from the two neighboring states in what was described as a working group aimed at reaching a ceasefire.

Declaring victory now, for the second time in 10 months, makes it just a matter of time until a new round of fighting begins, some voters say, as the opposition sees an opening.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his country was ready for direct negotiations amid international calls for Israel to stop its strikes in Lebanon.

Opposition lawmakers, rights advocates and some foreign governments condemned the law as discriminatory. Israelis in the territory are tried in different courts.

A soldier who made “inappropriate remarks” has been dismissed from service, the IDF said. Reservists from the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda unit held the journalists for two hours.