Lebanon and Israel held a fresh round of US-sponsored talks in Rome on Tuesday, with Beirut seeking Israel’s phased withdrawal from the country’s south.
– Convoys carrying delegations from the two countries arrived in the morning to the US embassy in the Italian capital, where discussions are scheduled to run until Thursday.
– “The United States remains fully committed to supporting both governments as they carry this process forward in a manner that delivers lasting security for both countries, eliminates security threats to Israel, and restores Lebanese state authority throughout the south,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X.
– At negotiations in Washington in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon’s south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as “pilot zones.”
– This week’s negotiations are the seventh round of Washington-mediated talks since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.
– Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion that Lebanon says have killed more than 4,300 people.
– Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the direct negotiations would bring “nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises” for Lebanon.
– In a televised address, he also criticized Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, saying he “has not acted as an arbiter, nor as a unifying figure, but has become biased and divisive, which is incompatible with his role and with Lebanon’s strength.”
– On Monday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged Lebanon and Israel to “continue in a constructive spirit, identifying shared solutions that will allow for the full implementation of the framework agreement,” his ministry said.
– After talks last month, Israel’s military withdrew from the outskirts of the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, one of the first pilot zones.
– The Lebanese army deployed to the area and has allowed residents to inspect their homes and businesses.
– Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told a cabinet meeting on Monday that his country was pursuing “efforts towards successive Israeli withdrawals from Lebanese territory, leading to a full withdrawal.”
– A US State Department official had said that this week’s discussions would “include expanding the pilot zone process, resolving all outstanding border issues, and working on a comprehensive peace and security agreement.”
– On Monday, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa warned that “moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is meant to protect.”
– “It is better to take the time needed to get this right the first time. Doing so will allow subsequent pilot zones to move forward more efficiently,” Issa said.
– “Both sides must agree on a clear, workable process before proceeding.”
– The Lebanese army’s deployment is a major test, with experts expressing doubt over the authorities’ ability to disarm Hezbollah – which opposes the Israel deal and refuses to surrender its weapons – and prevent further non-state military activity.
– Observers say Israel’s commitment to withdraw will also be tested when pilot zones are selected in areas fully under its occupation.
– Violence in Lebanon has decreased since the Lebanon-Israel deal and the signing in June of a preliminary US-Iran agreement on the Middle East conflict.
– But Lebanon continues to report intermittent Israeli strikes and shelling, as well as detonations and demolitions in southern villages.