Ceasefire deal to end fighting with Hezbollah soon, says Israeli diplomat

THE Israeli ambassador to Washington says that a ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached "within days."

Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday that there remained "points to finalise," and that any deal required agreement from the government.

But he said "we are close to a deal," and that "it can happen within days."

Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal.

The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon.