Israel is moving towards a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah but there are still issues to address, its government said on Monday, while Lebanese officials voiced guarded optimism but said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not to be trusted.

Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe.

Israel and Hezbollah continued their heavy exchange of fire on Monday, causing many schools to close on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, even as officials signaled that the two sides appeared to be nearing the first cease-fire since their conflict began last year.