Rome talks between Lebanon and Israel set to begin today

Dubai, Beirut – Al Bayan, agencies

All eyes turn today to the Italian capital Rome, where Lebanon and Israel are resuming a new round of US-sponsored negotiations in an attempt to advance implementation of the framework agreement signed on 26 June. While Washington affirms that the agreement has entered the implementation phase, disagreements over the mechanism for Israeli withdrawal and security arrangements in southern Lebanon continue to cast a shadow over the anticipated round.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that the Lebanese and Israeli delegations will begin a two-day round of talks in Rome today, Tuesday — the sixth such round since the start of direct US-sponsored negotiations.

The talks conclude just days before Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's scheduled visit to the United States, as the agreement transitions from the signing phase to the test of implementation, amid thorny issues relating to Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the disarmament of non-state armed groups.

The sixth round of talks scheduled in Rome focuses on monitoring implementation of the framework agreement, in particular the phased Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and mechanisms for verifying security commitments.

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel quoted a Lebanese diplomatic source as saying that Lebanon still insists on Israel's withdrawal from the two pilot zones in the south of the country before participating fully in the round, while Israeli officials had previously stated that withdrawal would not take place before security arrangements on the ground are completed.

Israeli position

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter affirmed that Israel, US Central Command (CENTCOM), and the Lebanese army are working to create the conditions necessary to begin the pilot phase in the two designated zones in southern Lebanon. He added that the success of this phase will determine the transition to subsequent stages of the agreement's implementation.

Leiter stressed, in an interview with CBS News, that the Israeli army would not withdraw if Hezbollah's presence in the two zones continued.