Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has once again urged Lebanese authorities to abandon direct talks with Israel, ahead of a fourth round of such discussions in Washington early next month, AFP reports.

“Direct negotiations are completely unacceptable and are a pure gain for Israel,” he said.

Addressing Lebanese authorities, he added: “Abandon the direct negotiations and do not give to America so that it gives to Israel[..] don’t be with them and stab us in the back.”