Netanyahu said he made the decision at the request of Lebanon. The talks will focus on disarming the Shiite militia Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon, according to the Israeli prime minister.
Lebanon wants to see a ceasefire before starting negotiations, a Lebanese government source told AFP.
The talks are expected to begin next week in Washington, a source with insight into the planning told the AP.
Lebanese MP Ali Fayyad, who represents Hezbollah, reiterated the Shiite movement's opposition to direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, adding that the Lebanese government should demand a ceasefire as a condition before taking "further steps."
Netanyahu's statement comes after Israel carried out widespread attacks on densely populated areas in the Lebanese capital Beirut and southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing more than 300 people and putting pressure on the ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Israel states that the attacks were directed at Hezbollah targets.
Israel has also been carrying out a ground invasion of Lebanon for the past few weeks. Since the escalated Israeli attacks began on March 2, 1,888 people have been killed and 6,092 injured in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
