U.S.-mediated discussions are expected to resume Wednesday as negotiators consider Israeli withdrawals, Lebanese army deployments and disputed territory
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
ROME (Worthy News) – Israeli and Lebanese representatives concluded the first day of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Rome on Tuesday, with talks scheduled to resume Wednesday morning as both sides seek progress toward a broader security agreement.
Two separate meetings were reportedly held at the U.S. Embassy. Diplomatic negotiators discussed the demarcation of the Israel-Lebanon land border, while military representatives examined how future Israeli withdrawals could be verified and whether an outside party should oversee the process.
Lebanon placed a renewed ceasefire, border demarcation and a verification mechanism for an Israeli pullback at the top of its agenda. Beirut also proposed expanding the existing “pilot zones” to include the southern Lebanese towns of Bint Jbeil and Khiam. Under the pilot-zone arrangement, Israeli forces withdraw as the Lebanese Armed Forces assume control and prevent Hezbollah and other armed groups from rebuilding their presence.
The State Department said the latest round would continue through Thursday and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to achieving lasting security for both countries, eliminating threats against Israel and restoring Lebanese government authority throughout southern Lebanon.
The negotiations are being led by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and former Lebanese ambassador Simon Karam. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the talks, describing them as humiliating concessions—underscoring the continuing struggle between Lebanon’s government and the Iranian-backed terrorist organization that has long operated as a state within a state.
The negotiations remain fragile. Israel has repeatedly insisted that any lasting withdrawal must be accompanied by the removal of Hezbollah’s military threat, while Lebanese officials are seeking to reestablish national sovereignty over territory where the terror group has maintained weapons, tunnels and military infrastructure for decades.
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