Crisis in Rome talks: Lebanon refuses to discuss operational mechanisms with Israel
The newspaper "Al-Akhbar" reports on a confrontation within the leadership of the Lebanese delegation to the negotiations. The military team opposed the political echelon's agreement to inspect 40% of the homes south of the Litani River and refused to discuss operational mechanisms with Israel. The US rejected the Lebanese military's demands, and Israel refused to approve additional withdrawal zones before the disarmament of Hezbollah in the villages is verified. The seventh round of talks ended without a breakthrough.
Disagreements in the Lebanese delegation to the negotiations with Israel: The newspaper "Al-Akhbar," which is close to Hezbollah, reported this morning (Saturday) that the political negotiation team of the Lebanese delegation to Rome "disrupted" the work of the military team.
According to the report, the political team agreed that the Lebanese army would conduct inspections in 40% of the homes in the entire area south of the Litani River. However, during the contacts, the military team opposed this and emphasized that the Lebanese army would not carry out any action in the territories under its control beyond what is defined by law, and is not interested in discussing its operational mechanisms with the Israeli side.
Instead, the military team asked the US to convince Israel to withdraw from the territories occupied in southern Lebanon in exchange for a promise that "any military presence or weapons" would be removed. Following this, it was reported that the US rejected the proposal and Israel announced that it is not prepared to discuss new pilot zones for withdrawal in the foreseeable future.
The seventh round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon ended without a significant breakthrough. According to Arab reports, no new pilot zone for withdrawal was defined due to Israeli insistence on first verifying the Lebanese army's steps in the villages of Zoutar el-Gharbiyeh and Froun (regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah).
It was also reported that in this round, discussions were completed regarding the third party that will verify the demilitarization in the pilot zones. However, in the meantime, only a limited list of options has been formed for selection in the next stage.
