BEIRUT, May 4 (Reuters) - Lebanon's parliament speaker, who is the most senior Shi'ite politician and a close ally of Hezbollah, said on Monday there could be no negotiations with Israel without a halt to the war that has raged on in southern Lebanon in spite of a ceasefire.

Israel carried out several airstrikes Friday on southern Lebanon that killed at least 10 people, while the militant Hezbollah group said it fired rockets and drones at northern Israel where two soldiers were wounded.

The destruction of this town, a Hezbollah stronghold, is repeated again and again across southern Lebanon, a lush region of undulating vistas, where Israel has razed border villag

Kamel Jaber reports from the south where Christian residents are refusing to leave as Israel seeks to empty villages of their inhabitants

Lebanon and Israel are set to begin a second session of direct talks in Washington. The discussions scheduled for Thursday are focused on extending a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and planning future negotiations.