Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant received the American envoy Amos Hochstein on Monday.
Both warned that time is running out for a peaceful end to the conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
According to a statement, Gallant emphasized that the reasons for the increasingly deteriorating situation are that Hezbollah is getting closer to the terrorist-stamped Hamas, and that the Islamic movement does not show signs of wanting to stop attacks on Israel.
"Therefore, the only way to regain security for Israel's northern communities is a military operation," Gallant said in a statement.
Netanyahu told Hochstein that a "fundamental change" is required and that Israel "is ready to do what is needed to guarantee security" at the border with Lebanon.
Amos Hochstein has previously urged Israel and Hezbollah to reach a diplomatic solution, as "a temporary ceasefire is not enough".
Since the war in Gaza broke out following Hamas' terrorist attack on October 7, Israel and Hezbollah have been attacking each other on a daily basis.
Last week, AFP reported that 614 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, including 138 civilians. In Israel, at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed at the same time.
