Israel Opens Up To The Idea Of Relaxing Tensions In Lebanon, Ambassador Danon: We Don't Want To Start Land Invasion

JAKARTA - Israel is open to ideas to ease tensions in Lebanon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said a day after the United States said it was exploring several "concrete ideas" with allies and partners.

"As we speak, there are important forces trying to come up with ideas and we are thinking openly about it," he told reporters.

"We don't want to start a land invasion anywhere. We prefer a diplomatic solution," he explained.

On Monday, a senior State Department official said the US was in discussions with allies and partners over some "concrete countermeasures" to find a way out that would prevent further escalation in combat and reduce tensions.

Danon said Israel took the idea seriously.

"We still think it is not too late for the Lebanese government, for the Lebanese people, to pressure Hezbollah to stop their aggression. If they will not fire rockets at Israel, then we will be able to bring back our residents, return to their communities, that's all," he said.

When asked by reporters about what they are discussing right now, Danon said: "I can't talk about it."

Fierce fighting this week between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah has raised fears the conflict that has lasted nearly a year will explode and disrupt Middle East stability, the warground between Hamas and Israel has been raging in Gaza.

Israel says it is shifting its focus from Gaza to the northern border, where Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israel in support of Hamas, which is also backed by Iran.

Most recently, Hezbollah on Wednesday said launching a missile into Israel with the target this time was the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence service near Tel Aviv. The attack comes shortly after the Israeli military said it intercepted the attack in a rare attack far from the front lines.

Reporting from CNN, the militant group said it launched a Qadr 1 ballistic missile targeting Mossad headquarters on the outskirts of Tel Aviv "to support the Palestinian people who are steadfast in Gaza" and to "defense Lebanon and its people."

It is known that the Israeli government has made northern border security a priority for war and allowed the return of some 70,000 residents displaced by conflict, while Hezbollah has vowed not to back down until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.