TEL AVIV, March 15. /TASS/. Israel does not plan to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon in the near future, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a briefing.

"We do not intend to hold direct negotiations with the Lebanese government in the coming days," he said.

According to the top diplomat, Israel "expects the Lebanese government to take serious measures to stop the shelling of Israel by Hezbollah.".